Product Description
Journeying to Las Vegas on a quest for his master, Merlin the Magician, Jack Collins seeks out Old Man in the Mountain, a demon force that plans to unleash a deadly biological plague and can only be countered with advanced mathematics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Not Free SF Reader
A fairly ordinary fantasy, but the fun part is the urban setting of Las Vegas, and the shenanigans that happen around there.

You have Merlin, mobsters, demons, and a young mathematical type
that is needed to save everyone from very, very bad things. That, and a
hardnosed woman to keep him in line, and to annoy him.

"the very rational return of A Logical Magician"
A Calculated Magic is the sequel to The Logical Magician and features the return of math graduate Jack Collins. Jack still works for the investment firm of Ambrose and Associates, Ltd. and still is the chosen hero to save humanity from the tyranny of evil. This time, he goes up against Hasan al-Sabbah, the supernatural Old Man of the Mountains, head of the fabled cult of Hashashins (later to be called assassins by those in the Crusades). The Old Man is holding an auction in Las Vegas, the prize of which is a deadly vial of biological plague. Jack, having survived various attempts on his life and determined to rescue his kidnapped (again) fiancee Megan, aims to crash that party. But all of that is nothing compared to his ultimate task: somehow Jack must stop the all-powerful Babylonian God of Death and Destruction called The Crouching One, the Lord of the Lions, who's bent on world subjugation and has been demonically working behind the scenes for two booksnow. Once again, Jack must use his arsenal of mathematics, logic and plain old common sense to rescue the maiden and save the day.

Most of the characters introduced in The Logical Magician are back for this sequel: the one and only Merlin the Magician, thriving as a commodities broker; his gorgeous halfling daughter Megan; Cassandra, bodyguard, martial-arts teacher and also the last bonafide Amazon and something of a prude; Fritz Grondark, gruff auto mechanic extraordinaire and a dwarf; and Witch Hazel and her talking cat familiar Sylvester. The only one absent is faery changeling and literal know-it-all Simon Goodfellow, who is inconveniently away, thus depriving Jack of a supply of easy answers. But there are new allies to aid Jack, namely his mother Freda (can you guess who she is?) and her two magical pet ravens, Hugo and Mongo, and John Henry (a Las Vegas chauffer) - which is a good thing because Jack's new foes number among them an affrit, the Sphinx, Cerberus the 3-headed Hellhound and the Norse Godling Loki and his Frost Giants.

This is another light-hearted, whimsical effort by Robert Weinberg. In a world where human consciousness has brought into life all its superstitions, myths and folklore legends, the author has again elected to go with a tongue-in-cheek tone and quite winningly pulls it off. In order to blend in with society, our various supernaturals have adapted by mostly undertaking mundane professions (the Wandering Jew writes travel books under a pen name; the Pied Piper performs in a nightclub; Hercules is a bouncer...). Several of Mr. Weinberg's notions and passages elicit an appreciative smile or chuckle (I like that Jack now sees the world thrurose-colored lenses...And there's even a fleeting reference to one of Weinberg's own works...and the comment "Cerberus...ain't he an aardvark?"...). I find Jack's method of defeating the Crouching One particularly brilliant and pretty funny. All in all, this is a fun book with which to while away a few hours. Fans of mythology will definitely get a kick out of this all too short series. Like The Logical Magician, A Calculated Magic is deserving of 3 and a half stars.

Somewhere there is a third book with the title Subtract One Sorcerer floating in limbo - waiting for release - should the publishers deem the public's taste warrants it. I, for one, would enjoy catching up with Jack Collins, Megan, Merlin and all (but especially with the gossipy blackbirds Hugo and Mongo).

Joint Review of A Calculating Magic and A Logical Magician
This is an entertaining and lighthearted pair of fantasy novels.As with other books of this type, the basic premise is that magical and mythical creatures continue to live among us.Weinberg finds witty ways to integrate the magical into ordinary life.The magician Merlin is a financial consultant, wood nymphs inhabit shopping malls, etc.The hero is a young mathematician who uses logic and knowledge of modern society to vanquish the villains.Of these two books, A Calculating Magic is the more amusing with better character development and clever use of Norse and Arabic mythology.The major joke at the end of A Calculating Magic is particularly clever.These books are hard to find but well worth a few dollars in a used book store.

Gotta love this book!
Robert Weinberg drags myths, legends, and grim fairy tales kickin' and screamin' into the present and makes his every man character find modern equivalents to old wive's tale solutions.The plot twists in ways youwouldn't anticipate and humor is spread liberally throughout.I especiallyliked Odin's crows plaguing the hero and his fiancee. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Quick intro to the X-Men
This small book on the X-Men is well illustrated and is written sort of as if it were an actual 'top secret file' on mutants. There's a wide variety of characters in the book but they stick largely to the main characters. You get a brief personal file (name, height, weight, group affiliation), background history, and listing of the person's powers. Characters cover the main X-Men (Cyclops, Beast, Iceman, Angel, and Marvel Girl), the replacements (Wolverine, Storm, Gambit, Rogue, Havok, Colossus, and others), and some villians (Apocalypse, Mr Sinister, Magneto, Mystique, Sabertooth, Sentinals). Obviously everyone will think certain characters should have been in it while others like Banshee, Shadow King, and Toad could have been eliminated. Either way, it's a good coverage of some mainstream characters. Of course the time frame is going to be limited as the comics continue to be written so this book covers events up to roughly the time of Onslaught. Histories are thorough enough and cover highlights and isn't too in depth on minor storylines. It's a small book with some great art and is a nice little reference refresher for the X-Men. ... Read more

Product Description
For everyone whose life has been touched by cancer,One Renegade Cell tells the story of the search for theultimate causes of this dreaded disease.

"One Renegade Cell…offers a breathtaking picture, bothwonderful and frightening, of the fantastic intricacy of aberrantcellular functioning."-New York Times

"Part primer, part history and part meditation. [One RenegadeCell] succeeds on all counts."-Wall Street Journal

One of the leading cancer researchers in the world, Robert A. Weinbergis perfectly suited to describe the search for cancer's origins fromthe early days of this century to the present. Presuming littleknowledge of biology, he tells how a cancer-causing virus was firstdiscovered in 1909, how the correlation was made between chemicalcarcinogens and cancer, and how oncogenes (the genes that can turn acell malignant) work. He explains clearly how malignant cells sendmessages to one another and also block the messages of normalcells. Finally, Weinberg predicts that cancer prevention may depend onour ability to understand the mysterious chemical clock that regulatesour cells' most basic functions. One Renegade Cell offers aconcise, accessible route into the complex and often daunting world ofcancer and cancer research.Amazon.com Review
"Cancer wreaks havoc in almost every part of the humanbody"--Robert Weinberg's opening remark is a chilling reminder of thepervasiveness of an all-too-familiar disease. Cancer touches mostfamilies, and if you have ever wondered why, despite so much time,effort, and money, it has proved such a seemingly intractable problem,then read One Renegade Cell, Robert Weinberg's masterfulexplanation. As director of the Oncology Research Laboratory at theWhitehead Institute and professor of Biology at MIT, Weinberg has beenat the forefront of cancer research for well over a decade.

Unlikemost diseases, cancerous tumors are not foreign invaders but "take onthe appearance of alien life forms, invaders that enter the bodythrough stealth and begin their programs of destruction from within." But as Weinberg shows, these are deceptive appearances. And since heis foremost a scientist, he finds the truth "subtle and endlesslyinteresting" and manages to convey fascination for something that mostof us dread--cancer. Much of the present increase in cancer is due toincreased longevity because "given enough time, cancer will strikeevery human body."

By telling the story of the historical discoveryof cancer, Weinberg is able to introduce gradually the intricacies andcomplications of the genes and proteins involved (oncogenes, tumorsuppressor genes, etc.) for the general reader. He characterizescancer cells as renegade because, unlike normal body cells, they"disregard the needs of the community of cells," they are "selfish andunsociable," and are only interested in "their own proliferativeadvantage." By comparison, normal cells hold down cell numbers by"inducing them to commit suicide" (apoptosis).

The understandingof cancer has been developed enormously over the last few decades byWeinberg and the worldwide community of researchers. As Weinbergeloquently shows, cancer research and its related disciplines "havemoved from substantial ignorance to deep insight." --DouglasPalmer, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Excellent book informative and easy to read
This book was recommended to me by a colleague.We worked in monoclonal antibody manufacturing and development, so I knew a thing or two about treatment of cancer, but I knew nothing about the disease itself.It's an easy read (I read a lot of this book on the bike at the gym), it's not boring at all, and it's written clearly enough so that people with no biology knowledge at all can understand it, but that it's still very interesting and informative to people that already have a science or engineering background.I would also highly recommend reading Robert Weinberg's paper in Cell from 2000 titled The Hallmarks of Cancer.It's a great supplement.

Must read
This is an amzaingmanuscript. By leading the reader through the key discoveries in modern molecular oncology , Weinberg is able to elucidate the hallmarks of carginogenesis in simple, yet comprehensive ways.
This is a must read for any doctoral student. However, Weinberg simple and entertaining language will be enjoyed by anybody who has an interest in the pathways that lead to cancer.

History of cancer theories for the layperson
Here's a book that I would recommend to those people interested in learning a bit about the beginnings of cancer. In One Renegade Cell, Robert Weinberg has written an informative narrative on the history of cancer and molecular biology research, focusing on the theories and evidence behind the early days of this field: the 1970's and 80's.

Weinberg's focus is on what he knows best: the mechanisms that promote and regulate the proliferation of normal and malignant cells. And for that, his explanations are the best out there. These explanations take up the first half of the book, corresponds to the early events in the development of a tumor, and makes up a coherent story. For example, he covers oncogenes, tumor suppressors, apoptosis, and to a lesser extent DNA repair, in relatively easy-to-follow language.

In the second half of the book, Weinberg refers to other aspects of cancer progression, more reflective of the later stages of cancer - angiogenesis, immune evasion and metastasis. He essentially provides the highlight reel for these aspects of cancer, and I felt that the transitions to such topics could have used some work.But that's okay in my opinion, because Weinberg comes right out and says it on the cover - this book is specifically about *the beginning* of cancer, first and foremost.

Weinberg also avoids using overwhelmingly long lists of references that are typical of more scientific writing, as well as skipping over the many highly-technical details that are involved in actually conducting such research, making it more accessible to non-experts. Indeed, he defines every term in a way that probably only requires a minimal background in biology to understand.

Excelent entry to cancer biology
There are very few books out that give the reader an overview modern cancer biology.This short book gives a clear picture of a complex and current subject.It uses historical perspective on scientific discovery to enliven the reading.It's well organized and readable without background in biology, but with enough depth to interest biologists in other fields.I also reccomend Robert Weinberg's "Genes and the Biology of Cancer", written with Harold Varmus, which covers the same material in a little more depth.

Valuable information!
Extremely informative, written in interesting form like a scientific novel, a systematic mini-survey of the molecular biology of cancer. Takes you through 30 years of discovery, explaining how false expectations were replaced by the discovery in laboratories of right pathways. Among the useful pieces of information you'll pick up: cancer cells are not destroyed by chemo and radiation, only some DNA damage occurs. Unless the p53 gene is little enough damaged, then the tumor is not stopped, and Weinberg explains why. He fully describes the 6 mutations that are required, over time, to produce a metastasizing tumor. My wish: that Weinberg would next write a book about cancer treatments.

I end with an aside for those who are in love with the red herring called "holism", and imagine that "reductionism" is dead and of little or no use in the elucidation of complexity. The entire field of genetic and cancer discoveries, all of microbiology, is nothing but plain ol' reductionism applied to very long molecules, molecules so long and often disordered in shape that new techniques of chemical analysis had to be invented (like PCR). This book and any standard text on molecular biology provides full evidence for the truth of my assertion. ... Read more

Product Description
A desperate war rages on the Horizon Realms, the mystic dimensions that surround Earth. The images of both the Nine Traditions and the Technocracy are under attack by a mysterious willworker. His challenge: "Join me or be destroyed!" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Conclusion!
I have enjoyd reading the three books of this trilogy,and the conclusion is very great.At last the characters face the truth. Very good book, from a very good author.

This is one good novel
Yes! Don't you just love it when mages battle? Finally the agents from the Technocracy and the Traditions meet under the most dire circumstances, fighting a common enemy. The stakes are high, the losses are great, andWeinberg actually manages to make us feel empathy for a cyborg!Thistrilogy is even better than Weinberg's Masquerade of The Red Death, Istrongly recommend it. I would have enjoyed seeing a little more Paradoxthough, but you can't get everything. Read it carefully, and see if you canfigure out who the Master of Harmony was. Hopefully Weinberg will give usthe answer sometime in the future, until then, read and rejoice.

It was geat; however, the ending could have been better.
This was a great novel I liked it alot. I wonder though why the ending was not done better. It seemed that the author was in a hurry and needed something to finish it. Thank God; however, the author brought back DireMcCann at the end. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Entertaining and Better Then Your Average....
Despite the negative reviews and feelings from many hardcore Mage the Ascension fans, I found the Ascension Warrior and the Horizon War Trilogy entertaining, fun, enjoyable, and insightful into the aspects of Mage the Ascension.I have never played this particular game, but I am familiar with Vampire the Masquerade and the Old World of Darkness, and being a fan of the setting in general, this novel was good.

There are many major events that occur in this the "Ascension Warrior," many events which can be considered 'cannon' in the Mage the Ascension Universe.The two major events are the death of Sao Cristavao, and the destruction of Dossiestep.The author confirms that these events actually happened in the Old World of Darkness.The Ascension Warrior does an excellent job in moving the trilogy along and develops many of the characters and their relationships.There are a few that stick out.

1.The romance between Seventeen and Shadow of the Dawn.- Being a huge fan of romance in Science Fiction stories, the development of the relationship between the two characters was one of the highlights of the book for me.Their gestures towards each other were subtle and made brief appearances, throughout the novel but were very effective in telling the story.

2.Ernest Nelson (X344) and Sharon Reed's alliance - After the destruction of the Gray Collective and the fall out of the Pattern Clone Being Unleashed in the "Road to Hell," these two enemies within the technocracy are forced to work together to survive the political game they are found in.X344 represents Iteration X and Sharon Reed is a Progenitor.Because the pair know many of the secrets of the Pattern Clone and are considered loose ends, they become hunted by infiltrators of the Technocracy and the Nephandi.They work together really well and it was another example of character development in the story.

3.Madeline Giovanni and the Rat Pack - Arguably Weinberg's most popular WoD creation, the Dagger of the Giovanni befriends another group of children who live in Rochester.Unlike the three boys in the "Red Death Trilogy" I found the Rat Pack much more enduring and sympathetic.They were tough kids who in a world much darker then VotM, are able to survive.Madeline, a character from the Red Death Saga, once again has her character fleshed out and it is once again well portrayed in this book.


-Thus far, I am finding the Horizon War trilogy darker to its counterpart in the Red Death Saga.The violence is more gruesome, there is a sense of hopelessness in the trilogy so far that makes me feel as if the story is going to end in a horrible manner.There is a lack of action in the novel when compared to the War to Hell, but the final scene somewhat makes up for it.It is one of the most action packed, violent, and most gruesome final battles that I have ever read in a Science Fiction/Horror novel.

Robert Weinberg is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors from the 1990s.He does a great job in creating dark scenarios and developing intriguing characters.I love the terror he invokes in the reader and the fact that at the end of each chapter you know something is going to happen.There are no wasted words, thoughts, action descriptions, or details in his writing.The Horizon War trilogy is entertaining, and I am looking forward to finishing "War in Heaven"

Still outstanding
I have been hooked since book one and had to order the last book in the triology. No one carried it. I have never been in such suspense before. Most of the books I have read I figured out the ending before I finished.These, however, I can only narrow it down to a couple different ways itmight end. I recomend these books to everyone.

I liked this book.
This is a good book for a second volume in a trilogy managing to sustain my interest in both the protagonist and the mystery of who is the mainantagonist.The supporting characters both hero'sand villains are also interesting. I enjoyed having characters that had appeared in his earliertrilogy (the Masquerade of the Red Death) showing up and continuing thier story. ... Read more

Product Description
This anthology presents a wide range of analysis, criticism, and opinion about one of the most influential fantasy authors of the twentieth century, with contributions by such well-known writers and critics as: Poul Anderson, Fritz Leiber, George H. Scithers, L. Sprague de Camp, S. T. Joshi, Howard Waldrop, Steve Tompkins, Darrell Schweitzer, Leo Grin, Robert Weinberg, Mark Hall, Charles Hoffman, Don D'Ammassa, Robert M. Price, Gary Romeo, and Scott Connors. A "must have" for every fan of Robert E. Howard. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Table of Contents
I do not own this, so the rating is based on familiarity with the stories and with other Wildside Howard collections: I'm assuming these are taken from the original pulp appearances.

From [...] (Parenthetical comments categorizing the stories are mine.):

"Rattle of Bones" (Solomon Kane)
"Skulls in the Stars" (Solomon Kane)
"Skull-Face" (Kathulos of Atlantis)
"The Blood of Belshazzar" (Cormac Fitzgeoffrey)
"Blow the Chinks Down" (Sailor Steve Costigan)
"Cupid from Bear Creek" (Breckenridge Elkins)
"Graveyard Rats" (Steve Harrison)
"The Purple Heart of Erlik" (Wild Bill Clanton)
"Black Talons" (weird menace)
"Black Wind Blowing" (weird menace)
"Alleys of Darkness" (Dennis Dorgan)
"The Thing on the Roof" (Cthulhu Mythos) ... Read more

Product Description

The Biology of Cancer is a textbook for undergraduate and graduate biology students as well as medical students studying the molecular and cellular bases of cancer. The book presents the principles of cancer biology in an organized, cogent, and in-depth manner. The clarity of writing and the lucid full-color art program make the book accessible and engaging. The information unfolds through the presentation of key experiments which give readers a sense of discovery and provides insights into the conceptual foundation underlying modern cancer biology.

The Biology of Cancer synthesizes the findings of three decades of recent cancer research and proposes a conceptual framework from which to teach about these discoveries. It provides the necessary structure, organization, and content for a course on cancer biology for advanced undergraduates and beginning doctoral students. The book is comprehensive and offers many pedagogical features to assist teaching and learning. The book includes many recent and topical references, and is intended to empower the student to move directly into the primary research literature.

The text is up-to-date and provides current information on topics such as tumor stem cells and recently introduced chemotherapeutics. State-of-the-art techniques are discussed throughout. Modern biomedical research is explored, helping readers to hone their analytical abilities and to assimilate and think clearly about complex biological processes. The Biology of Cancer provides insights into many aspects of immunology, developmental biology, and neurobiology.

The exceptional full-color art program contains many images published for the first time. The book is extensively illustrated with schematic drawings, micrographs, computer-generated models and graphs. The pieces were chosen to support and clarify the concepts, as well as to supply additional interest.

Besides its value as a textbook, The Biology of Cancer will be a useful reference for individuals working in biomedical laboratories, and for clinical professionals.

Customer Reviews (37)

... better than described
The book got here in time, and in a condition better than described. The seller was very prompt with replying messages,and what blew me away was the good luck note attached to the book.
Thanks, I really appreciate your services. I will recommend people purchase items from this seller.

Good, not perfect yet
This book was awaited for long. Weinberg's writing style is excellent. The book covers major topic of the molecular biology of cancer. Compared to some other comprehensivebooks on cancer, this book is focused on the molecular events in cancer, and not on particular cancer types, or similar, more clinical topics. Yet (being a cancer researcher myself) I feel that some controversies were left out. One may say that in the textbook one is to present established knowledge, however we are witnessing every day that many dogmas are overthrown. This being a 1st edition, there is still a space for improvements. However, I recommend this book for undergraduates, graduates and professionals.

Great introduction to the cell biology underlying cancer
Highly recommended to me by a physician scientist colleague for an overview of the role of mitochondria in cancer.Those chapters were superb.CD with color figures from the book is great.Wish all first/second year medical students had to read this book.

Very readable serious scientific introduction for the college student/first-second year medical student/graduate student.

A good book for undergraduates, PhD students, physician scientists
This book contains tremendous amount of information, covering history, bench works, and medicine (cancer). i believe the author spent tremendous time and effort to finish this book. it is well-organized and well-written. i strongly recommend this book to undergraduates, PhD students, and physician scientists.

Excellent! Great Book.
I bought this book as a resource for my research. Is really easy to keep track of every single thing you are reading about. I really recommend it! Also about the cd is very useful if you need some particular graphic, diagram or even a picture. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

beautiful illustration
I bought this for my daughter.We both love the art works.Beautiful illustrations.Must have for dragon's fans.

Beautifully illustrated and intriguing book.
This book is a must have for all fantasy lovers.It has earned a place on my bookshelf next to "Maps of Middle Earth" and "Tolkien's World-paintings of middle earth" which are two books that me and my family pick up and read regularly."Hellfire: Plague of Dragons" is not only beautiful in it's artwork, but also a very interesting historical account with a little conspiracy thrown in of a dragon plague.It is an interesting story and definitely worth a read. ... Read more

Product Description
Tracing Robert Bechtle's career from his earliest paintings of the 1960s to the present day, this is the definitive book on one of the founders and foremost practitioners of American Photorealism. Created in close collaboration with the artist, Robert Bechtle will accompany the distinguished painter's first retrospective exhibition. Lavish plates feature reproductions of approximately ninety of Bechtle's most significant artworks, from large-scale oil paintings to intimate watercolors and drawings. These magnificent illustrations portray the range of the San Francisco-based painter's iconic imagery of California--the rows of palm trees, stucco houses, and the ubiquitous automobiles that spurred suburban expansion--as well as his lesser-known but equally compelling family scenes and stark interiors. Bechtle's preference for wide, empty spaces; his flat, sun-bleached palette; and his detached mode of recording random details impart a singular sense of alienation to his subjects. His deadpan paintings capture the essence of the postwar American experience, in which California often serves as the testing ground for the realization of national dreams. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A handsome and well produced volume
Robert Bechtle A Retrospective encompasses the artist's work from the 1960s to today, published to coincide with a major retrospective exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. There are four essays along with a text commentary which accompanies the plates. The essays are titled: Robert Becthle: Painting As We Are, A Place in the Sun, Photographic Guilt: the Painter and the Camera, and Alameda Gran Torino. The first essay discusses the artists' work in relation to his chronology, second looks at his paintings in terms of lightand then humour and the third essay is self explanatory from its title. Following the section of plates is a Chronology, Exhibition History, Selected Bibliography and a Catalogue of the Exhibition.

The book is illustrated throughout in colour and black and with, the latter being either black and white snap shots or reproductions of charcoal drawings. There are 91 plates, mostly one to a page with a few occupying a double page, plus the many illustrations accompanying the essays and other sections.

There is inevitably a certain amount of repetition in the various essays, and while constant mention is made of Bechtle's use of photography and methods of transference of the images to canvass, none of them discusses in any depth how he his actually applies his paint. While it is frequently pointed out that the finished pictures from a distance, and of course in reproduction as in this book, look photorealistic, we are reminded that in fact the paint on closer inspection is relatively freely applied. Unfortunately we have to take the writers' word on this for there is not one life size detail of an oil painting, the nearest thing is the picture introducing the plates which is about one third life size, but it gives little away. I find this disappointing, it is akin to viewing the exhibition but not being allowed to venture any closer than around 15 feet to the pictures. The water colours and charcoal drawings, being initially smaller do not present such a problem.

It is nonetheless a handsome well produced volume; we can clearly glean the Becthle's primary subjects: cars, urban landscapes and people known to the artist; and the reproductions as here even greatly reduced in reproduction still manage to convey the freedom and vitality of the work.

Robert Bechtle the Photo Realist
edward hopper ... robert bechtle ... william eggleston ...

the great american image creator.

the only book of bechtle. great!!

The painted snapsnot
The mere act of transforming what might be considered an average snapshot into a work of art is Bechtle's magic. Quiet streets, mundane automobiles, and people from a home photo album take on an air of the sublime, proving that the greatest power of photorealism lies not in the technique, but in the process of transforming a snapshot into an irrefutable memory.

Capturing the Magic of California Light
Robert Bechtle has been a creative force in California art since the 1960s, yet his name remains practically unknown outside the Bay Area artists group.This very fine monograph by Janet Bishop, designed as a catalogue to accompany the traveling exhibition of this works, should help to mend that sin of omission.The style of writing is warm and informative and, in many ways, in keeping with Bechtle's vision of the world he paints!

One quick perusal of the many reproductions of his major works in this book quickly leaves the impression that Bechtle understands and successfully captures the quality of light that is peculiar to California.His street scenes of angled cars and bungalows are flooded with light and shadow.Though his art movement classification is Photorealism, Bechtle goes beyond mere photo copying techniques. His work is more about our lifestyle and our living compartments normally looked upon as mere blocks of space in which we function.Bechtle enhances everything he paints with a sunny 'romanticism' if you will.His art is more about a love affair with the atmosphere's effect on the mundane places we inhabit than it is with simple reproduction of images and landscapes.

For the art lover of realism and for those who respect the prodigious gifts of representational artists, this book is a must for the library.Highly recommended.Grady Harp, December 05

Super Artist
This is a great book about a great artist. I saw the pictures in original and they are very good reproduced in this book. Who loves photorealism should have it. ... Read more

Product Description
An anthology of twenty haunting ghost stories brings together the talents of Peter Straub, David Morrell, Joyce Carol Oates, Charles Dickens, Clive Barker, Ray Bradbury, Edith Wharton, Shirley Jackson, Harlan Ellison, John Updike, and other notable authors. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Bring This Book Back Into Print!!
I used this in an English course and my students loved it.It is one of the most accessible ghost-story collections ever.Many other anthologies focus on just Victorian era (langauge too difficlut for many) or modern (subject matter too visceral or abstract).This had a beautiful blend of everthing from artistic use of langauge to psychological and visceral themes.It did not bore anyone in the class. I wanted to use it again and discovered it was out of print.HISS-BOO!PUBLISHER TAKE NOTE: If this book isn't revived, it will come back to "haunt" you!

A good collection of ghost stories by excellent authors...
This is a good collection of ghost stories, many by authors who are known for other genres of literature, such as Edith Wharton, Graham Greene, Charles Dickens, Joyce Carol Oates.I recently have been told that thiscollection is going out of print.I wish it weren't!I've been using thiscollection in a class I teach, with good results.It's so hard to find agood collection of shorter horror fiction..... ... Read more

Product Description
Just as The Double Helix told of the historic effort to discover the structure of the DNA molecule, this book recounts the inside story of the discoveries that revolutionized our understanding of cancer. Written by one of America's leading scientists in this effort, here is a compelling, candid account of scientific progress.Amazon.com Review
It's been some 20 years since a book of medical literature hascaptured the interest, let alone the excitement, of young people consideringa career in medicine or biology. Racing to the Beginning of the Roadis a welcome end to that trend. Author Dr. Robert Weinberg, director of theoncology research lab at the Whitehead Institute of Technology, relatesseveral theories on the origins of cancer. He recounts scientificbreakthroughs throughout the story and paints delightfully human portrayalsof the scientists involved. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

It reads like a thriller!!
This was a wonderfully written book.I know nothing of science, and was mesmerized by the writing and the information imparted.Weinberg writes like a novelist, but has the impeccable scientific background to convey howimportant basic research was to the discovery of how cancer occurred on themolecular level.It gave me a great appreciationfor research, and hopefor the future of cancer treatment.

Academic research in molecular biology brought down to earth
This book puts to rest the debate of whether basic science should receive as much priority as clinical science. Himself one of the most prominent figures in cancer research, Weinberg writes with captivating (and oftenamusing) narrative power how a very simple basic curiosity - how do webuild a cancer cell from scratch? - has led to revolutionary views ofcancer. Peter Gorner, the Tribune writer, once wrote "Science wouldlike you to think that it marches steadily forward in white-coatedsplendor, but the truth is more mundane - fits and starts are the usualrhythms, with flashes of insight wasted by years ofwrong-headedness...". In that sense, Weinberg captures successfullythe frustration and maddening uncertainty every scientist has to endure totest their hypotheses as well as the jubilation and excitement that comewhen pleasant accidents occur, leading to the ultimate breakthroughs. Moreimportantly, Weinberg highlights the critical intellectual input fromscientists who cares more about the basic biological processes than curingdiseases. These results from the basic scientific research have,unexpectedly, solved many central questions in cancer biology and AIDS.Many stories presented in the book thus challenge the currently prevailingwisdom of "disease-directed" scientific research. If you want toknow how science operates in reality, this is THE book.

Brilliant scientist, brilliant author unfolds cancer story
A true scientist turns spell-binding author as he unfolds the fascinatingmystery of cancer and the blow by blow drama of the pursuit of its secrets.This is a page turner as much any novel you can find. Why? Because truth isstranger than fiction and a lot more relevant--if half of American maleswill have cancer before they die, and if 1,500 people are already dyingevery day in America from this mysterious enemy. If you are concerned aboutcancer, or you think one of your friends or children could do battle inthis area, then this is the book for you and for them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

That Crawling on Your Back Might be a Critter
These 100 short short stories are all about scary creatures.Some are real, some are standard monsters from our shared cultural imagination--and a few are newly invented by the authors.There is a mix of famous and less known authors in this collection.Some of my favorites are from the better-known authors:

Arthur Conan Doyle's "The American's Tale" seats us in a British club as a stereotypically brash visitor from Arizona tells a story not to be believed.

Ambrose Bierce's "The Damned Thing" takes us to an inquest where the deceased's diary, `so as not to confuse the jury,' is not entered into evidence.

Saki's "Laura" introduces us to a woman whose passions extend into the next life.

Guy de Maupassant's "The Mother of Monsters" instructs us in a different form of prenatal care that may not be as different as we would like to think.

H. P. Lovecraft's "The Unnamable" is... indescribable.Yet the author creates a sense of growing horror with his customary indirect descriptions.

There are a few non-flyers, but most of these stories are good and some are quite good.This is a fine collection to read when you are home alone with your dog.You will gradually begin to wonder about those looks he keeps giving you. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Though exercise is relatively easy to do, its influence on our physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being is complex. Even those who are aware of its positive effects are sometimes reluctant to begin. Why do some people maintain a regular exercise regimen while others quit after a few weeks? How does exercise influence mental health? If medical, health, fitness, psychology, and athletic professionals are to help their clients, they must understand the issues that surround the psychology of exercise. "Foundations of Exercise Psychology" presents a summary of the information to date on the psychology of exercise and offers lucid suggestions for practice and future research. "Foundations of Exercise Psychology" will help to shape the direction of the field of exercise psychology for many years to come, and it will do much to encourage young professionals to enter the field and to pursue further study. Students moving toward the exercise professions will gain a solid background in key issues surrounding exercise and health and make great strides forward in becoming competent and compassionate practitioners.The contents of the book go well beyond past texts in the field and include some innovative and thought-provoking chapters on little discussed topics in exercise psychology such as the meaning of exercise and the psychological and physical dangers when exercise goes awry. The text spends considerable time exploring the relationship between exercise and personality, self-esteem, self-concept, mood alteration and motivation - concepts and features of being human that are all intimately related. The range of populations examined includes women, children, dependent and habitual exercisers, and participants throughout the life span. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Buy
The book was in the condition promised and was at a great price.Arrived well in time for classes. ... Read more

Product Description
Another thrillogy of emotional, macabre, & blood-sucking tales that will leave you breathless! This volume contains the critically acclaimed fourth, fifth, and sixth graphic novels based on the White Wolf role-playing game: "Giovanni," "Assamite," and "Lasombra." Also includes a bonus, never-before-seen 48-page "Tremere" story by David Gallaher, Andy Bennett, and Ken Wolak! Tales of hidden motives, lost treasures, assassinations, and judgment. What more could you want? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful stuff!
There is a great diversity of material in this story. It's a wonderful book for anybody who is a fan of vampires and comics. Lots of twists, turns, and politics - of course, some wicked beautiful artwork. ... Read more

Product Description
During the search to find a cure for cancer a great deal about the rules that govern normal life has been discovered, specifically the reproduction and development of cells. These revelations and their contribution to the fight against cancer are the focus of this volume. The book shows how scientists have explored the questions of cancer by tracing carcinogenesis to its earliest detectable, submicroscopic stages. Drawing on classic and recent research findings, the authors explain how any one of many factors (including sunlight, radiation, tobacco and certain viral infections) can combine with existing predispositions to radically alter the genetic code, turning a normal gene into cancer-causing one. They describe what we know about the mechanisms of genes that seem to promote cancer (oncogenes) and those that work to prevent and restrain it (tumour suppressor genes). The authors conclude the book with a review of current cancer research endeavors, looking ahead to possible future breakthroughs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excelent, deserves to be updated and reprinted
An excelent short biology book on cancer, written by two of the worlds leading experts.There are very few up-to-date books on the biology of cancer.Even though a dacade old, this is the best place to start if you find a copy.Readers with a little knowledge of biology will appreciate it more.This book is not necessarily an "easy read".The authors introduction addresses "The motivated but non-expert reader."The photos and illustrations are appreciated.

A lot of information is packed into about 200 pages.Covers such topics as oncogenes, tumor supressor genes, growth factors, transmembrane receptors, signaling pathways, etc.Gives some historic background and describes some of the methods of research used.Gives an over-all picture of the multi-step model of cancer's origins.Does not cover medical/clinical aspects of cancer.

You may want to read this book because you have cancer and want to study a little about it.A good choice.For a good, shorter, simpler book, read Robert Weinburg's other book, "One Renegade Cell". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

3 and a half stars for this cool horror/detective hybrid
Robert Weinberg has been nominated for the Hugo and the Balrog and is a two-time winner of the World Fantasy Award, as well as the recipient of a Bram Stoker Award, so it sucks that he's only written 16 full-length novels. I've enjoyed his light fantasy series (A Logical Magician and A Calculated Magic) and his classic horror The Devil's Auction is one my all-time favorites.

The Black Lodge (first published in 1991) is an urban horror/occult tale that part-times as a detective story.It showcases Sid Taine as the tarot-reading shamus and introduces a supporting character that is later incarnated in a different literary format. The story starts when Taine is hired by a rich, beautiful woman (of course) to look into her husband's shady association with a sinister society called the Black Lodge. But as Taine doggedly chases down his leads, elsewhere in the city, a faceless entity known as the Dark Man is hunting down and butchering more than a few lowlife characters. Are these bloody murders connected to Taine's case? Well...yes. The tension mounts as the Dark Man gets closer and closer to possibly violently doing away with the core cast while Taine and friends attempt to make sense of the case's murkiness and also find a way to defeat their seemingly all-powerful adversaries. It all boils down to a confrontation with the entire Black Lodge in the somewhat exciting finale. But that's all I'll say about the plot.

As a horror novel and for sheer entertainment value, the Black Lodge pales in comparison with the Devil's Auction, but then again, I hold the latter in very high regard. But, still, the Black Lodge doesn't lack for scary, diabolical fun. Most of the plot takes place in the cold, mean streets of Chicago and involves quite a few criminal scums-of-the-earth,thus flavoring the horror theme with a certain seedy urban element. The Dark Man is an unstoppable force of evil and, reading on, I wondered with dreadful anticipation how, or even if, the key characters will escape his relentless pursuit. The story is tautly written. Mr. Weinberg certainly knows how to amp up the suspense. He also goes into some details about the particulars of voodoo, several ancient European orders and satanism. Three characters I particularly cared for: detective Sid Taine, persistent, a tad psychic, and more to him than most of the book lets on; Papa Benjamin, a houn'gan of the voodoo Mysteres, getting on in years but dedicated to his faith (he loves Johnny Carson); and Ape Largo, ex-circus freak (smarter than he looks) and current bodyguard to the Bocar, head of a religious temple, which serves as a cover for a major drugs operation. Incidentally, in 2001, Ape Largo was resurrected in a Marvel comics mini-series titled Nightside by Mr. Weinberg, who made Largo a business partner/bodyguard of Ms. Sydney Taine in her detective agency (Sydney Taine, by the way, is the sister of our hero Sid Taine).

I actually give this book 3 and a half stars. While well-written, I couldn't really get into it until two-fifths into the book. The Black Lodge takes some time to introduce all the pertinent players and their relevant back stories. Part of my lack of initial interest has also to do with the early part of the book being focused too much on scenes of the Dark Man chasing down and offing various scuzzballs, for whom I didn't give a hoot. It wasn't until the monster threatened to target people I'd emotionally invested in that I began to sit up and take avid notice. But, boy, when the third reel begins, it's a non-stop thrill-ride. Ape Largo's various face-to-faces with the Dark Man alone will keep the reader on edge, guaranteed. So, dear peruser, if you get a chance to pick this book up, grab it, yell "Aha!", then go home and get set for a fun read.
... Read more

Product Description
Many business people think that dot.com start-ups don't really need business plans. They imagine an e-business as a seat-of-the-pants operation that depends on around-the-clock work and luck more than on careful planning. In reality, nearly every Internet business-from the smallest online retail site to the largest search engine-will be more successful if there is a carefully designed blueprint to follow. With Streetwise Internet Business Plan, your .com business can have the competitive edge it needs. Plan your online success by:

Creating a plan that identifies potential risk and rewards for your e-commerce concept

Evaluating the technical considerations of going online

Going live with your e-business

Marketing an online business with both new and traditional strategies

Build Your Business From the Ground Up:

Follow a business plan outline

Determine what your company is all about

Hire the right management team

Design a marketing plan that won't fail

Stand out against your competition

It Really Is Easy Math:

Make accurate financial projections

Understand your balance sheet

Determine your P&L

Project your cash flow

Know where your money is going

From writing a mission statement to putting your business plan in action, Streetwise Internet Business Plan is your first step to Web success. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

2001 is ancient for an Internet Business Plan Book
The book, Internet Business Plan, by Robert Weinberg, has all the merits of an excellent Business Plan book.

For the internet, it is lacking. The book is dated 2001 and that is extremely dated for use for an Internet business.The appendix references AltaVista as a search engine...

There is one good story of an un-successful story with DCG in chapter 10 that has tips you can learn from. There is a success story of a company that started in the late 1970's and then went online in the 1990's, whichis not relative to most internet businesses today.The Appendix has an example of a fish and condiments business and a "doohickie" business both, bricks and clicks companies, not a purely internet based companies.

The standard set of forms are included. Nothing internet specific.The simple executive summary on pages 108-110 are probably the most valuable pages in the book.

Good Luck!

Professor Click

An Encyclopedia of Information
The book is simply superb.It is packed with valuable information presnted in an understandable, enjoyable format, and it contains great humor--which not only makes learning enjoyable, but increases the effectiveness of teaching actual content.

I have spent all of my life as an educator, and am constantly reviewing instructional materials.It is extremely rare to find an author that can break down complex material in such a manner that it is understandable to someone with little or no knowledge in the content area. To have that level of material presented in a sytle that makes learning fun as well as productive, is almost unheard of. Yet, that is exactly what Rob Weinberg has done in this book.

I enthusiastically recommned this book to anyone considering doing business on the Internet, anyone looking to invest in that market, and to professors and students in business schools throughout the country.

Not serious enough or detailed enough
This book has a lot of unique advice and information on starting up a company and creating an entire business plan, for either an outside investor, just a family member, or internal use only.However, it was not really focused on Dot Com companies like I hoped, and the tone of the book was much too joking for my liking.I like the Dummies books in general, which also offer jokes, but the author went a little overboard here.Too much of the text is fluff, which wastes time while reading each section.Also, I would have preferred serious and real life business plan examples in the appendix.Like I said, some of the advice is really useful when you find it, and it is written in a very easy to read by anyone manner, which might be helpful for some.I just expected a lot more judging by the reviews here.

A MUST READ for anyone revising their business plan
Whether for the entrepreneur or the established business, this is THE book to use when revising a business plan. Weinberg hits the mark again and again, and does so in a way that makes the reader feel he is speaking with an old friend - bad jokes and all. I have been recommending this book to everyone I know.

StreetSmart Internet Planning
For those of us who are street smart when it comes to entrepreneurship. ... Read more

Product Description
Based on Mage: The Ascension from White Wolf Game Studio, The Road to Hell is the first part of the Horizon War Trilogy. A villain from the mages' past returns to claim his legacy, embroiling Earth's mages in a struggle for both survival and dominance of all known creation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Good story, but the writing could be better
I like the Mage game system, and it's always interesting to read stories using that style of magick. This story is a good adventure and it moves along well. But the writing style was amateurish, and even a little painful at times. It seemed that every time a new character was seen, he or she would be described like a list of features, starting with hair and build, finishing with clothes (descending from head to toe). This was slightly annoying, as it meant that every single time a new character came into the scene, all action stopped so the author could read off this checklist. There were other problems with the writing, too. I lost track of the times Seventeen (the main character, an amnesiac escaped technocracy test subject) "had no idea" about something or found himself using skills "he hadn't known he'd possessed."

But apart from that, the story was pretty good. I don't like asingle thing about the character of Sam Haine, not even his name. But the Technocracy villains were very interesting characters, and their creations equally so. The author juggles quite a number of plotlines throughout this novel, which presumably will intertwine more fully in the next couple novels in the trilogy. As a result, there are a great many characters and factions to learn about. Most of them have well-defined and believable goals and personalities. A few of them are a little sketchy for now.

After reading this book, I look forward to finishing the trilogy.

Great book
I enjoyd reading this book.I strongly recommend to all people who likes the vampire or mage world.But if you want to read this trilogy, I suggest that you read first the Mascarade of the Red Death Trilogy first, of RobertWeinberger. Both trilogies are realted (not much).

A Must Read For Anyone!
I was completely in love with this book from page one to the end of it.I have been a fan of the white wolf role playing games for quite a while, and this book took the Mage and Vampire games and made them a reality for me!I loved it, and know that others, be they role players or even justsci-fi/fantasy fans will love it too.

Komaine

hooked just by reading the first page
I picked up this book out of curiousity, and turned out to be an outstanding book. This is the first Sci-Fi book and I am dying to know what happens. It is very hard for a book to grab my interest on the first page.I started out by saying, "I'll read a couple of pages to see what itis like" and ended up reading the entire book and now I am pursuingthe series.

If you liked BLOODWAR, chances are you'll like this as well.
Despite myself, I enjoyed this book. Though not my normal read, I took a chance on the "Horizon War" trilogy because I had enjoyed Robert Weinberg's "Blood War" trilogy (why is everything in trilogies these days?). Eversince the mini series "Kindred, the Embraced" aired on TV (now available asa rental) I have hungered for a good vampire story. This book is full ofthe same betrayal (plots inside of plots) that we've come to expect from"World of Darkness" authors. Though admittedly comic bookish, RobertWeinberg, in my opinion, is the best that "White Wolf Publishing" has tooffer. A definite read for roll players and fantasy readers alike. Moveover Anne Rice... ... Read more