"Eagle or Sun?" is a collection of prose poems by the great Mexican poet Octavio Paz. Several of the short pieces represent a sort of hybrid form between the poem and the essay; others seem to represent a melding of the poem and the short story. Although Paz can be obscure, and even somewhat indulgent, at times, "Eagle or Sun?" is marked by flashes of brilliance which make it an important piece of 20th century literature.

Some of the book's highlights included section X of "The Poet's Works," a nightmarish vision of language gone awry; "The Blue Bouquet," which is undoubtedly one of the greatest horror stories ever written in any language; and "My Life with the Wave," a surreal fantasy story that is rich in irony. "Eagle or Sun?" may not be easy reading, but it is a rewarding and memorable work from one of Mexico's most important writers.

A superb collection of early writings from 1949-50, Paz explores Mexico from three fronts, past, present and future. Influenced by Surrealists his prose is vivid and colorful as he explores the relationship between language and poet, reality and language and his vision of the past. His exploration of the apocalytic future, as foretold by the Aztec calendar stone is haunting. The world lost a great poet but his works live on for future generations.

Best poetry and a good translation. As "A Draft of Shadows" (translated by Weinberger also), it worths the reading. These books both are the best Paz's poetry... light on the other side... beating.

In his Sceond book dealing with endangered species Mac Priebe again tells a compelling tale of the sucess of the removal of the second species from the endangered list.

This book maintains a high level of educational value with out overwelming the intended audence with scientific data.

I am a bird watcher for many years and realy did enjoy this book.

Scott Wright

I knew Mac as a child, and it is both fitting and rewarding to see his passionate interest in wildlife has blossomed into a solid writing career on the topic so dear to his heart.

The book is informative, interesting and entertaining -- as a highschool teacher I highly reccommend the book to all students interested in learning about the history and biology associated with our noble national bird.

The book provided value on every page, and I (and my students) are eagerly awaiting Mac's future works!

On July 4, 2000, the bald eagle will be officially removed from the List of Endangered Species. The Bald Eagle: Endangered No More is in celebration of a species that has been saved from extinction and begins with Neil Armstrong's famous Moon Mission words "The Eagle has landed." The final page shows a healthy eagle family nesting at the Kennedy Space Center in the 1990s. Highly recommended for personal, school and community library wildlife collections, Mac Priebe's informative and inspiring text is perfectly showcased by the artistry of Jennifer Priebe, 39 full color photographs, 3 black and white photos, maps, charts, glossary, and a website list.

One of the best of the serise. After the events of "Time Nomads" where we (eventually) got to hear about the origins of Dean Ryan sets off to find his own son. There is always a catch in the deathlands however, Dean has been captured and is being used as slave labor in a New York salt mine.

Overall-Not the best but we do meet Dean.

I read this novel like all the rest in the series about 2 or 3 times - it is an awesome read for action/adventure fans. This is a good stand alone read but you will get hooked in like millions of others to this great saga of survival in an altered world known as - The DEATHLANDS!

ANOTHER CLASSIC IN THE SERIES I OBTAINED THROUGH AMAZON.COM TO FILL THE GAPS IN MY COLLECTION. THE GROUP END UP IN NEW YORK MINUS JAK LAUREN WHO STAYS BEHIND IN NEW MEXICO. THEY ENCOUNTER YOUNG STREET GANGS THAT RULE THEIR TURF AS WELL AS SCALIES , A MUTANT BREED THAT USE HUMANS FOR SLAVE LABOR. ITS HERE IN N.Y. THAT RYAN DISCOVERS HE HAS A SON WHO IS NOW 10 AND A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK. THEY ALSO MEET HARRY STANTON- KING OF THE NEW YORK UNDERWORLD WHO KNEW RYAN AND DIX FROM THEIR TRADER DAYS. A GREAT STORY AND A MUST FOR ALL FANS OF THE SERIES. PARTICULARLY NASTY PART IS WHEN J.B. GETS BIT BY A BUG , I WON'T SPOIL IT , BUT IT'S NASTY! THUMBS UP!

Biggins has produced another scorcher of a book. Well written and packed with enough technical detail to please anyone. This book covers the period when Prohaska is sent to fly on the Isonzo front after allegedly sinking a German submarine by accident.
Biggin's keeps the story buzzing along with a blend of action, humour and a large dose of the ridiculous. I can thoroughly recommend it.

While I am here I would also like to recommend another Biggins novel, "Tomorrow the World". This covers Prohaska's stint at the K.U.K. Naval Academy and his experiences on a voyage of exploration on the S.M.S. Windischgratz. I was fortunate enough to find a copy in London a few years ago and I haven't seen another one since. Anyone who has read the other Prohaska novels will get a kick out it. If you can find it read it!

The third of Biggins's tales (after "A Sailor of Austria" and "The Emperor's Coloured Coat") of Austrio-Hungarian Imperial naval officer Otto Prohaska. This entry chronicles his five months duty on the Italian front with an air reconnaissance unit. This book, more so than the previous two, manages to project the hopelessness, meaninglessness, and horror of WWI. Although Biggins foreshadows the deaths of various characters, the tragedy of their circumstance is always intact and immutable. As always, the technical aspect of the book is thrilling and captivating. Just as he did with submarines in "A Sailor of Austria," Biggins masterfully describes the emergence and rapid development of the airplane as an instrument of war. Reading this will shatter all preconceptions about the era of biplanes and the "Red Baron." The distinguishing feature of this entry in the series is its melancholy mood, which the reader cannot help but adopt.

"The Two-Headed Eagle" is quite possibly the best war novel in English since "The Caine Mutiny." By turns witty, farcical, and intense, this book captures the essence of World War I, surely the craziest war -- at least the craziest major war -- ever fought by so-called civilized society.

The book is episodic -- closer to four or five novellas than a single unified novel -- but that's one of its strengths, giving the narrative an almost kaleidoscopic quality that helps to convey the atmosphere of two of history's most confusing and disjointed phenomena -- the polyglot Habsburg Empire and the war itself. A great deal of action and character are packed into just four months of 1916. Yet Biggins has such a clear grasp of his story that the story itself never becomes confusing.

The book's humor is a great asset as well. Wit runsthrough the book, beginning with its title -- "The Two-Headed Eagle" refers both to the symbol of the Habsburg state and the two-seater airplane with an NCO pilot theoretically commanded by an officer-observer. Satire and even farce make their appearances. One of the best episodes involves the atttempt to execute a deserter, featuring a bureaucratic dispute over who gets to shoot him -- this abbreviated summary may not sound funny, but you will be rolling on the floor when you read it, I promise. Then there is the thorough historical research that has gone into the novel -- including the ethnic infighting of the multinational Empire (which contributes richly to the humor).

But this isn't just a comedy -- far fromit. Biggins' grimly concrete descriptions of life and death on the Isonzo Front are almost photographic. Biggins has the gift of conveying the futility and waste of war -- this war in particular -- without ever seeming overwrought or self-righteous.

Biggins' protagonist, Otto Prohaska, may be a bit too good to be true -- a paragon of civility, common sense and integrity, also heroic, witty, and cultured. Yet like his creator, Otto never seems priggish; he tells the stories engagingly. Prohaska's voice (he narrates the story in the first person) really does sound to me the way I'd expect an Austrian officer of WWI to sound. There are a couple of solecisms -- "orientated" for "oriented," "prospectus" for "prospect" -- but then, English isn't Otto's first language, nicht wahr?

All in all, this is a terrific book.

This is the seventh book in THE EAGLES SERIES, I think.
It is the story of Falcon MacCalister roaming the west far away from the peace and wonder of the MacCalister Valley. He has made himself a legend as an honest, fast gun, powerfull muscles and not a person you want to mess with. However, as he roams and lands in a small town in New Mexico,he meets up with two young men eager to build a reputation as, fast with a gun and tough enough to back it up. Their mistake, if they try and use MacCalister as their stepping stone. Just another great story by Johnstone.

This was an excellent book! William Johnstone has a great ability to put you, as the reader, in the brush of the ambush and on the saddle of the horse. Love the way he tells the story from both sides. Never have to worry about missing a detail, very descriptive, very intense. I never was much of a novel reader until now. I want to buy all his western novels.

I can't wait for the next installment on this series. I will keep reading these books as long as he keeps writing them. Also writes great horror stories.

Marblehead today is a yuppie heaven; shiny SUVs ply the tree-lined streets, and over-ample pseudo-colonial mansions crowd their small lots. North of Boston, "Marblehead" has become a synonym for "posh" and "snotty". This is ironic, for I remember it in my childhood, half a century ago, a rough town of drinkers, cursers, and womanizers who didn't give a damn for any outsider's opinion. Marbleheaders could be recognized anywhere by their accent and by certain 'code' words. I still think of it in my imagination, strong as the New England rocks that line the shores, the rain dripping into the narrow lanes off the now long-gone elms, mournful seagull cries over the shingled roofs of odd wooden houses by the harbor. That was the Marblehead I knew, full of fields, woods, ponds, and small farms; wildflowers and butterflies; pale red starfish in the tidal pools. Yeah, it's gone now. It's just a shadow of that raffish self.

But if you want to know what it was, if you want to capture the flavor of this, my beloved home, be sure to read THE HEARTH AND EAGLE, which takes you from early colonial days, when Marblehead was a rowdy offshoot of serious Salem, to the 1920s. I won't advise you that this is the best novel you'll ever read, but for sure it is the best one ever written about this town. If you've read it, you'll practically be able to find your way around the winding streets that always lead down to the sea. The author did her research while living at 30 Franklin Street, which her imagination turned into an inn by the name of the title. She may not have been a local, but she certainly captured the flavor of town and depicted a long stretch of Marblehead history through the lives of her characters. If my description grabs you, get hold of this book. Then come visit the town and see how it's changed.

This book captures all the details of Marblehead's unique history in memorable characterizations. Reading Hearth and Eagle will make those not blessed with an address in Marblehead long to visit and experience this unique stetting for themselves. A wonderful read. I could not put it down. My copy has been passed through half of Marblehead's residents!

I am only twelve, but I found this book fabulous! Although put into easily read text, The Hearth and Eagle is a complex and extremly enjoyable book. My mother has lived in Marblehead for a good period of her life, and it has always been to me a funky kind of town. However, after reading this book, I realised how spirited 'Headers have always been. While reading it during school, the people sitting near me would continually roll their eyes as I proceeded to make endless faces and gasps, totally absorbed in the book!

This book is drier than the wonderful BBC series starring Ian Richardson. But because Michael Dobbs spent years as a journalist covering British politics, plot points that are simplified or glossed over in the series are explained in more detail. So I feel like I understand what went on in the TV series more, but it's not as much fun. The book went through some significant changes on the way to the teleplay adaptation.

This is the first in a trilogy that is, perhaps, the best of modern political fiction. The reader can't help but be riveted by the lead character, even hoping for his sinister plots to succeed. Even having seen the BBC television version, I loved the book. It's a great read.

This book is the best one in the collection

A CIA spy thriller written by newcomer Alan Eagle with a believable "mindreading" science. This Jack Higgins-like melodrama unfolds quickly and you won't want to put it down. It is bestseller caliber both in story and the unfolding style of presentation. The Washington intrigue is great for this election year, intermixed with a "West Wing" type insight into White House personalities.

This book was certainly a page-turner and is interesting reading for anyone!

I found this book hard to put down once I began to read it. The description of the methods used to train mind-readers are so plausible that you wonder if indeed such an effort was undertaken by the CIA, who, incidentally, refuse to confirm or deny any such activity. We know the Russians engaged in similar activities, but do not know how successful they were. This book will be particularly of interest to anyone who has considered the possibility that certain paranormal manifestations could be channeled into productive use for covert activity, whether it be for national security, or business espionage. The incidents recounted in the book come to life for the reader because they do not veer toward fantasy, but are so realistic that you think you are reading fact, not fiction.

Unbeknownst to many of us, Nazi POW's were detained right here in the US in the waning years of WW II. This is the story of a prison breakout and the Texas Ranger's posse to apprehend them. You get a feel of a good old western, but with biplanes and machine guns thrown in. There is a healthy dose of action enriched with colorful dialog, identifiable characters, and heart pounding descriptions. And amidst all of this, there is a serious message. This very well written book will educate, as well as entertain. Definitely recommended.

by Michael LaRocca
editor/author

Folks, it's time for me to tell you what I think of reviewing books. I'm dispensing with my usual language and telling it like it is. No flowery prose where I show off MY skill. Just my impressions of a book I read.

Who is Stephen Lodge? I don't know. But one day there he was in my emailbox. He asked me to review his book. Oh no! I quit doing book reviews! Besides, what if it was a disappointment?

Two things about his message caught my eye.

One - an email without typos. Those are rare. Am I the only person to proofread my email before I click send? Apparently not.

Two - Nazi POWs were held in the United States during World War II. I didn't know this. But, it's true. What a hook. In the hands of a hack, an awful book. But given the right author, it could be great. Was this Stephen Lodge? I didn't know.

I looked at my editing schedule. And my teaching schedule. Read a book for pleasure? When?

But there was that hook. That well-written query. A man of intelligence and ability, Stephen Lodge appeared to be. I told him to email me the galley.

If it was terrrible, I'd simply never write to him again.

I wrote to him again, because I thoroughly enjoyed SHADOWS OF EAGLES. Real people, incisive observations, gripping plot, wonderful writing style, a bit of well-placed humor, neither too little description nor too much.

Josh McComb is a civilian pilot in Texas during World War II due to an injury he picked up flying combat missions during World War I. He also trained some young pilots before leaving the Army. Who is this author? How'd he make this guy so real?

Erich Raller, German flying ace who dined with both Kaiser Wilhelm II and Hitler, is a POW in Texas. I don't believe the author is German. How the heck did he make this guy so real?

Red Collinson, Texas Ranger who watched Texas change from frontier simplicity and directness to contemporary confusion. Was the author a Ranger? How'd he make this guy so real?

The list goes on and on. No need to bore you with too much analysis, since you haven't read the book. Yet.

Consider this. You've just learned that POWs from 9-11 or Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard are being held right down the road from your home. Scary? The author makes it just as scary to the locals of Marfa, Texas in the 1940s. A cast of characters that doesn't blur into a dozen different incarnations of the author's voice. This book takes you to another time,
another place, and you enjoy the visit.

In short, I recommend this book and thank the author for sending it to me.

After writing all the above babble, I did some research on the author. According to THE DESERT SUN (Palm Springs, CA), he's has been a writer for over 30 years, and his screenplays include THE HONKERS, KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS and RIO DIABLO, which starred Kenny Rogers.

So now, instead of wondering who he is, I wonder how the heck he found me. I mean, he's been getting words of praise from people like actor Ralph Waite (THE WALTONS), author Timothy Hallinan (THE BONE POLISHER) and producer-screenwriter Rance Howard (GRAND THEFT AUTO). Why does he need my
recommendation?

by Kathy Bosworth

I read many books as a reviewer. Every so often I find one that I simply cannot put down. Shadows of Eagles was definitely one of them! I was immediately intrigued by the fact that it is a fictional novel that takes place during a little known factual based era. During WWII, unknown to me, the United States kept some captured Nazi POW's in prison camps right here in the states. I found that the historical knowledge was almost as interesting as the story.

The story takes place in a military facility in Texas. When a group of the Nazi prisoners escape, a regular Texas-style posse is formed to try to capture them. This story has all of the flair of an old western movie. The author has a gift for bringing the old west back to life. His characters are well defined and colorful. There is plenty of action that will keep any reader on the edge of their seat. I found my own heart racing when the guns were firing and the horse's hooves were pounding. Yet, hidden between the action, there is a very clear message about war in general. When does a man say, "that is enough?"

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written novel that will educate, entertain, and allow you an escape from reality.. Excellent job Mr. Lodge.

This is the second book in this series about Jason Coles. I could not believe how much it is like the first one, "Stone Hand." In this one Jason Coles has quite being a scout and settled down to raising horses. He comes back to his cabin to find his Indian wife killed and his adopted son carried off. Remember this is the same son that was carried off in "Stone Hand". He of course goes after the ones who did it and they are led by "Black Eagle." The story line is about Jason going back to the army as a scout. Will not tell you the ending because you may read the book. I just got tired of the same little boy being carried off, brought back and carried off again. Maybe West can come up with a different story line in his next book.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a better class of western adventure. The story takes enough twists and turns to keep you excited to find out what's going to happen next, and Jason Coles is the kind of hero you want to read more about. I hated to see the book end. I'd like to congratulate Charles West on a book well done.

I really enjoyed being transported back to the wild frontier. I could hardly put it down once I started reading. This book was a wonderful finale to the Jason Coles series.