Gilbert Morris perservers with this third set of books in this series. He takes us from the traumatic Civil War to the Wild West, and tells of the generation after Sky.

This set of books spans from 1870-1900.

"The Union Belle" tells of Sky's son Mark, who's been everything from Confederate officer to Mexican jailbird as he follows the Union Pacific Railroad. He escapes a close scrape in Texas with his life, but not without leaving his heart to the woman who helped him.

"The Final Adversary" skips ahead to Mark's children. Barney, the oldest, feels he could never measure up to the expectations of his father as his younger brother did. However, he's the talk of New York in 1894 as a prizefighter, but soon finds himself in the dregs of Sing Sing on trumped-up charges. After a lawful escape, he finds God and sets his sights on Africa. Morris does a superb job of bringing the African mystique to life. He does justice to the superstitions that rule their world, as well as the realities of malaria for the missionaries.

With "The Crossed Sabres", it's back to Sky's family. Tom Winslow returns from the war to find his wife has forsaken him. After finding her near death in her home state, he vows never to forgive the person responsible--his ex-best friend, Spencer Grayson. Tom raises his daughter, Laurie, in the wilds of Indian territory, much to the chagrin of his family. Faith Jamison left her home to minister to the Indians, and will stop at nothing to accomplish her goal; and Tom runs into an old enemy as he watches Custer's war with the savages.

"The Valiant Gunman" is an appropriate title for Dan Winslow. He and an old war buddy, Logan Mann, dream of starting their own ranch out west. Dan goes to find Logan's long lost daughter as he treks across Texas to Wyoming. Once there, he finds a ruthless cattle baron who will stop at nothing to monopolize the grazing lands--and he finds that he has been elected to stop the Arrow.

"The Gallant Outlaw" moves across Winslow lines to Zach Winslow's family. Betsy Winslow has long envied the attention men gave her sister. She runs off with the first man who showers her with attention--and he turns out to be a ruthless outlaw who takes her into the depths of Oklahoma Indian Territory. It's up to her older sister, Lanie, to find Betsy--and bring her out alive.

Eight-year-old Boris is sent to visit his grandmother for some months in turn-of-the-century Russia. Lonely and desperate for playmates, he has to make do with the kindly old lady and his own imagination. He is intrigued by a realistic replica of a sailing ship which is stored high on a shelf in her kitchen. This is the only ojbect in her humble cottage which she will refuses to let him play with, so naturally it acquires additional charm--the attraction of the Forbidden.

But the young boy has a mind of his own, capable of reasoning like an adult. Convinced that the ship actually is housing tiny, living beings, he becomes a master of deception and cunning as he plots how to catch them. He lies to granny and sneaks the tantalizing ship down in her absence. Proving the existence of the little fellows (and capturing one alive for public display) become his obsession. Which leads to inevitable disaster. So, are they real or merely the result of an over-active imagination?

This is an excellent short book to read aloud; be sure to take a vote on this burning question, before revealing the climax. Although I was dissatisfied with the ending, I was spellbound throughout--I only regret that I can read it for the first time but once! I believe this book was based on some incident in the author's childhood and that the manuscript was found by accident. Wonderful pen and ink sketches by Paul O. Zelinsky make this gem a literary conspiracy of Russian Z's! Excellent Fantasy--or Reality...!

Even though this book is quite old, it still applies in the 21st century. Some of the case studies written 30 years ago have played out over time exactly as the author predicted making this a better book than a more recently written one. I highly recommend this as a book that will last longer than the "new economy".

For those familiar with the Russo-Japan War you will be very familiar with the centerpoint of the book: the battle of Port Arthur.

This book is the experiences of some of the soldiers who took part in the battle for Port Arthur. Originally written in Japanese for a Japanese audience, it was translated first in 1907 (?) and rereleased in 1920 in attempt to show the world what Japanese soldiers thought and felt regarding warfare at the time. Japan was being bathed with both admirition and astonishment for being first a nation that had only modernized a handful of decades previous (a mere 40 years) and second the only non-European nation to effectively defeat a modern power.

These are the stories of men that fought in the Japanese army during the Russo-Japan war. Reading this will give the reader a look at how Japanese fighting men saw things, and can serve as a valuable contrast to how warfare was and is viewed in the west.

Much of the anti-Soviet propaganda that has existed since the birth of the first socialist nation in the history of the world is thoroughly dispelled in this wonderfully written book. Hundreds of references from over 200 sources make the data put forth quite compelling.

It is a vital book for anyone interested in the lies conceived about the Soviet Union by cold warriors in the US and elsewhere.

This is a great book that gives insights into the lives of ordinary people. So much of the history that one reads is impersonal, this gets down to the personal level. It tells about the lives of people of Russia. The different essays are wide-ranging in topic and time period. They encompass such diverse subjects as labor clinics where prostitutes are "rehabilitated," the doctor who was supposed to answer questions by mail but only gave the info he thought people should have, the intriguing case of Krylov vs. Krylova and many more. The essays, written by various historians, are all short and interesting and are accompanied by a succinct introduction by the editor which places them in context. I recommend this book for a good overview into the lives of ordinary people of Russia and an interesting read.

Relatively unknown but on par with "Hiding Place" and "Goodbye is not forever" in terms of its power, I highly recommend this book, which is silently dedicated to the many innocents who lost their lives in the Stalinist USSR. It's simple, elegant narrative packs a cumulative punch in illustrating what it means to take up the cross and follow Jesus. I would have loved to meet Ms. Bershadsky, whom I believe must be at this moment sitting next to Jesus. God bless your soul, Ms. Bershadsky, and also all those who suffered with you in person or in spirit.

This is a carefully researched, thoughtful and well-written examination of the Russian speaking population in the "near abroad" since the break up of the Soviet Union. While my experience is largely with Lithuania, his discussion of the Russian speaking population in Estonia and Latvia seemed insightful. As a minor criticism, or perhaps more as a term of reference for readers, I should note that Laitin seemed more sympathetic to the diaspora Russians than to the local populations. His discussion of Baltic events struck me as distinctly pro-ethnic Russian, although not outrageously so. Persons with Baltic ties may disagree with some his views, but they will still find them interesting.

A long-expected translation of one of the most prominent stydies of Chekhov, written with lucidity and depth akin to Chekhov's own style.

In the midst of the theological quagmire of the American religious scene, this book stands tall. I read this book as a part of a Modern Theology class in college. I was amazed at its clarity and its directness.

Anton Ugolnik is a gifted writer who takes you on a journey through Communist Russia, showing examples of Christians who kept their faith in the midst of overwhelming repression. But he also shows quite well how Orthodoxy "fits" in America. It is a rich book, covering areas as vast as theology, political theory, hermeneutics, and the like. After reading this book, I finally understood the doctrine of the Trinity.

It is not a Summa of Orthodox thought, or even Father Ugolnik's Magnum Opus, but it is a true diamond in the rough-- a refreshing break from the soulless theological meanderings that have overridden the Christian thought in America.