Quite simply, this is one of the best collections of ghost stories ever written, worthy to stand on the shelf beside the work of M.R. James, Henry James, Robert Aickman, Edgar Allan Poe and whomever else you place in your horror pantheon. It is regrettable that the U.S. edition lacks the terrifying "The Trick," which appeared later in WAKING NIGHTMARES - the U.K. and U.S. editions of DARK COMPANIONS differ by 4 tales - but this is made up for by the presence of the quite different, but equally terrifying "The Pattern". How was this excellent book ever allowed to lapse out of print?

Few writers can even come close to the strange, nightmarish stories of Ramsey Campbell and, in this collection, he is in top form. Several of these tales will keep you up late at night, looking in the shadows, listening to those stranges noise that keep getting louder, as if they were getting closer. Don't read it alone.

This is the most amazing book I have read in a very long time! I was instantly engrossed in this story, on the edge of my seat till the very end, and what an ending! Or is it just the beginning? This book has it all, and every chapter held a new surprise. There is truth here that just can't be ignored or denied! I want more!

If you're looking for something new and fresh, this is it. This book has everything, excitement, adventure, plot twists, philosophy and spiritual truth. Once you start reading it, you won't put it down until you're done. It sucks you right in and the ending (no, I'm not going to give away the surprise) just blows you away. Buy this book, you won't be sorry!

This book is for any one interested in the wonders of life. Every time you open the book and browse through the pages you can learn something new and interesting. To make it even more interesting are the colorful pictures of the diverse marine life. To anyone who has an interest in biology this is a must have!!

This book is an in-depth look at the shark. It is basic enough for most people to understand. The photographs are wonderful.

This is an excellent review of the issues raised with manipulation of human stem cells. It covers all kinds of scenarios and sees them through various perspectives. The book is enriched by essays from distinguish authorities in complementary areas. Everyone gives their opinion and explains their point of view in a non-techincal language. Besides it includes a very interesting interview with a panel of personalities such as James Watson. I do not like long reviews, so this would be short too, just to finish a last warning, this is not the latest publication on the subject and since its publication tons of related work has been done. This is important so if you want to be updated you will certainly need recent information, nevertheless this covers all in an excellet manner, I highly recommend it.

Important developments in the rapidly-changing field of human genetics are in the newspaper virtually every day, but the underlying ethical and moral issues seem to remain constant from year to year. This book does a very fine job of exploring those concerns and examining the larger implications of human "germline" engineering.

Although it also contains additional related essays, "Engineering the Human Germline" basically seems to be an edited transcript of a thought-provoking symposium (of the same name) which a thousand or so others and I attended at UCLA in March 1998. During that public event, an impressive panel of experts delivered intelligent, understandable lectures, then debated the great promises and dangers which might result from altering the genes which get passed to our children, grandchildren, etc. (such theoretical alteration of genes, in a nutshell, is what "germline" genetic engineering is). "Engineering the Human Germline" proves to be a worthy record of that symposium.

Some say the human gene pool is a sacred thing and that we should never "play God." Clearly, if you monkey around with the genetic code of an early-state embryo, you might wind up with a monstrosity on your hands. But what if (at some point in the future) you knew exactly what you were doing when you corrected (or requested the correction of) a pre-embryo's faulty genetic code? What if, as a result of your intervention, the resulting human being neither developed a deadly or life-shattering genetic disease (that it would have inherited, otherwise), nor passed the faulty gene(s) on to the next generation? The value of this promise seems to be at the core of what's explored by the numerous contributors of "Engineering the Human Germline."

At one point in this book we have a very outspoken James Watson (the 1962 Nobel-winning co-discoverer of DNA structure who also helped establish the Human Genome Project) saying, "It's common sense to try to develop it ... If we could make better human beings by knowing how to add genes, why shouldn't we do it? What's wrong with it? Who is telling us not to do it?... We should be honest and say that we shouldn't just accept things that are incurable. I just think, 'What would make someone else's life better?'"

All in all, "Engineering the Human Germline" is a balanced, intelligent, readable resource for professionals, students or the average citizen who wants to know more about the groundbreaking developments in human genetics and the surrounding issues which will affect us all.

If you can buy only one book on Windows 95, let this be it. The only reason I gave this book a 9 instead of a 10 is because it's on the verge of going out of date, and I would prefer a newer version (1998). HOWEVER, it's still the book to buy. The information is concise and easy to read, yet technical enough to those with an intermediate to advanced knowledge of Windows 95. I bought it as a precursor to studying for the MCSD Windows architecture exams, and I think I made an excellent choice. Buy it!

Have actually rated this book a "9.5", (actually a "10") in the spirit of the Olympics, leave room for the book that has that added edge is a true "10". Mark Minasi, Christa Anderson, and Patrick Cambell have truly done their home work on this one. There is a silent personal touch as you read through the pages, kind of like they understood what some people might be going through and looking for in a book of this type. Don't get me wrong as this is also a very powerful publication and is very useful at my level. It will more than meet the needs of the mid-range user to the power user, wouldn't recommend it to the novice. I just happen to have enjoyed the style compared to some of the other reference books I have used. The layout of both the sections and chapters give it a sense of organization making you feel comfortable reading. It allows a person to move around without getting lost, and if you do, the table of contents isn't very far away. Which is also very well layed out. If you are on, or work within, a network or an administrator in some capacity the network chapter is most excellent and very extensive! Networks are also mentioned throughout the other sections. Even contains a chapter and references throughout for the "registry hacks" that will show you the way, but be careful. The troubleshooting section is heaven. The entrie book fills those voids Microsoft has left out in it's documentation. The CD that is included makes this even a better buy. The multimedia portion is very informative and, again, well put together. The tools section is even better. If you are looking for a book(s) and CD package, I purchased the set which included "Mastering Windows 95" (The Windows 95 Bible) by Robert Cowart, this is the one to buy!! It will help guide you throgugh life with Windows 95. Thank you for the nice work everyone!!!

Diana Campbell is my favorite (no exceptions) Regency romance author. I have (I think) all her books and wouldn't part with any of them.

This is one of the best Regency books I've read recently. It has a fast moving, very funny plot, and the hero and heroine were at each other's throats all through the book. It was truly hilarious in spots! If you see this book used somewhere, grab it, and I guarantee you will NOT be disappointed. It's the occassional jewel of a book like this that makes Regencies such fun reading, but I just wish there were more like this one out there.

As the proud owner of two fat cats, I enjoyed this book. I thought my 20-lb cats were fat until I saw some of the critters featured here. If you are a cat person, you'll like this collection of incredibly fat and funny felines.

The book "Fat Cats" by J.C. Suares, is a great book for anyone that has a cat, loves cats, or has friends or family that appreciate this truly unique creature. This book isn't a story but more of a pictorial essay of cats that are, well FAT. They are some really cute pictures in the books of people who love cats that are "weight challenged". The most amazing picture is that of a cat that weighed 43 pounds!!! All the pictures in the book are black and white photos and this book makes a great gift. I leave the book on the coffee table and always have guests picking it up to look at these incredibly beatutiful cats!

The Jimmy Flannery books are among the best written today, and these are the first 3 and are rather hard to find. The writing is flawless with Flannery speaking. The Chicago dialect is perfect and the reader learns a lot of the politics of the area. Excellent!

It's great to see Campbell's Jimmy Flannery series collected in anthology volumes. This series is a sleeper -- and about as far away from the "hard-boiled" style of the author's other thrillers as can be. Flannery is a gentle, likable sewer-worker (remember Art Carney's Ed Norton?) whose street smarts come from his progress through Chicago ward politics. In a way, the books are more "Runyonesque" reveries centering on a recurring cast of characters in and around Jimmy's life than gripping, intricate mysteries -- solving the murder becomes almost a counterpoint to the real story going on. But they're oddly appealing, even irresistible -- even to jaded readers (like me) who generally eschew cozy little suspense novels chock full of "heart." Since many of the Flannery books are out of print (The 600-lb. Gorilla is especially scarce), this volume is welcome. Campbell is such a good writer that he turns even trifles like these titles into something well worth reading; I hope this first Flannery trilogy garners him -- both author and protagonist -- the readers he deserves.

What can be said about the most factual biography written about Wiley Post. Kudos to Bob for telling the story of Wiley Post with the utmost accuracy and authenticity. His work brings to the reader a factual and conceise history of one of the worlds greatest avaitors. Once you start you want to read it from cover to cover. For avaition buffs this is a must read. Not only does it give a great deal of insight to the mentality of a fearless flyer, but provides the reader a look at an uneducated man who by dogged detrmination and force of will, circumnavigated the globe and designed the prototype of the modern space suite.

Bob Burke as set an example for writers and researchers that will be hard to match in his wonderful work on Wiley Post. Aviation buffs, Oklahomans and anyone who appreciates a good book that is hard to put down will appreciate "From Oklahoma to Eternity: The Life of Wiley Post and The Winnie Mae". In addition to his excellent journalistic skills, Burke proves himself to be a superb researcher with a desire to mix truth, fact and adventure with a great story about a great man. I have added this book to my personal list of all time favorites and will look forward to more works by Bob Burke. It is so very refreshing to read history (I am a historian) written honestly without loads of mistakes and sloppy research. Keep that word processor fired up Mr. Burke!

Dear Sir !
Congratulations !Great books !But !
I.m missing the
explanation for the content of Foquet abbé:
"...so difficult to discover that nothing now on
this earth can prove of better fortune nor be their
equel.."
Nevertheless it is questionig to me,why Posussin
informed Foquet so easily-if this is so secret ?
Furthermore I doubt about the fact,how could Poussin
undertood all these really difficult mathematics in
this century-if it makes difficulties to me as well in
2001 ?

...and what is meaning:"nothing better fortune" ???
Just the mathematic rules and ????
I.m absolutely sure there should be more than this
and I think there should be any link,how rapidly
Sauniere became rich ?!
These are currently my doubts and questions to you.
With best regards:
Zoltan Szilagyi
Budapest/Hungary

This book is a really good read for anyone interested in Rennes-le-Chateau. For those who have read "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" by Baigent et. al., this is a totally new and different perspective on the mystery. The basic premise of "H.B., H.G." is that Jesus didn't die on the cross, but has a direct line of decendants to the present day, and relates this to the secret organization Prieur de Sion and Freemasonry. Wood and Campbell take the same information Baigent et. al. used to derive this hypothesis and, using a more mathematical approach, relate the secret of Rennes-le-Chateau not to Jesus Christ, but to a returning comet that will destroy the earth at a certain date. Worth reading!