Mr. Ellis' strength is in his realistic dialogue and characters, which is well on display here in this collection of character sketches.

I say character sketches, and not short stories, because that's really what they are. A series of interconnected portraits of the different, intermingling layers of society in LA.

And it is pretty impressive at that. Each of the characters in the book are going through very similar feelings, have very similar problems (spiraling depression, enstrangement from their parents, etc.). Luckily, Mr. Ellis is able to differentiate their characters and situations.

As happens with books of this type, the ending seems to rush together more quickly, and feel more connected than the beginning. And frankly, as much respect as I have for Mr. Ellis' writing, it was exhausting to read story after story. The book is an interesting portrait of a city constantly on the edge of destruction, but there's only so much nihilistic fiction a guy can read before you curl up into a ball in the corner.

As always, Ellis is a writer worth reading. But be prepared: it is a short book, but a long haul.

3 and 1/2 stars leaning towards 4.

Bret Easton Ellis applies his cold Californian brushstroke to another slice of L.A. life. He is still using the same kind of clipped, cold and quick-to-read writing, but the difference here is that is is applied to more marginal members of society (as opposed to highschoolers, uni students and yuppies) such as rock stars, modern-day vampires, murderous dealers as well as possibly more familiar family settings.

Some of these stories are pretty good (The Secrets of Summer, Letters from L.A. & Discovering Japan), others are more average (Water From The Sun), but really if you know Bret Easton Ellis, then you know what you're are getting (bored, cold and uncaring charcters in interesting surroundings), the main difference here is due to the lack of an overall story there is a wider range of terrain and a little less cohesion. If you dig the man, you'll probably dig this book, it's a pretty decent page turner, but not in the same league as "Less Than Zero" or "American Psycho".

In The Informers, Bret Easton Ellis continues with his stream of dark consciousness style, plunging deeper into our American wasteland. There is not a plot to speak of. This book is an expose, a strung out journal. No linear story exists. Not a single pleasant thing happens to any of the characters, with the exception of Anne, who does manage to meet a boy, but of course he winds up getting slaughtered by vampires. Even the vampires suffer, vomiting into toilets after discovering their victims blood was rich with heroin. Ellis ended American Psycho with the alarming, "This is not an exit," but The Informers offers perhaps even less redemption for its sorted cast. Loveless and stark, with no epitaph to speak of. Ellis does manage to evolve and branch into, for him at least, new literary territory. In The Rules of Attraction and American Psycho we are introduced to Sean and Patrick Bateman. The young spoiled, exceeding wealthy, ubiquitously jaded brothers who form the crux of Ellis's dusky landscapes. Sean even has a cameo of sorts in The Informers. But Patrick and Sean are young like Ellis is. They are men like Ellis. In The Informers Ellis introduces us to something different, their families. The mothers and the fathers, the sisters and brothers. The portrait is now complete. Here is the why behind the hedonism, the violence, and the senseless moral ambiguity of it all. This is where the monsters come from. Here we find roots, jaundiced and sickly, but roots never the less. Ellis has managed to mature and enlarge his shadowy world, without sacrificing any of the unholy brimfire that continues to be so fresh a voice.

This is the third volume in Thomas A. Eastons Organic_Future series. It looks better that the second volume in that it is more stimulating and contains more ideas. The story is a little stilted but it is sufficiently readable. The book may make it into a list of 'most_notable_SF', but never into 'greatest_SF_ever'.

Theoretical biologist Thomas A. Easton presents an ugly view of the future in WOODSMAN, the third novel of the The "Organic Future" series, first published by Ace in 1992. Between writing novels, Easton has been reviewing science fiction for Analog since 1979.

Set some time in the future, genetic engineering allows scientists to replace many non-organic needs, thereby introducing issues of what constitutes humanity. Indeed, "Gengineering" allows the genetic mix of plants, animals and machines. Conversely, growing opposition from "Engineers" want to return to the good old days of "Machines not Genes," regardless of the damage to the environment.

While the concept of splicing human genes with plants or animals creates fascinating moral implications, the author fails these expectations. The shallow characterization relies entirely on plot to move the novel along. For example, when Frederick leaves being a pig behind to become human, a reader is left to assume he mourned his deceased wife, but sees no evidence of grief. Further, although Sam and Sheila Nickers have turned themselves into half-plants as anniversary presents to each other, consequently loosing their jobs, their homes, and their futures, the cold lack of emotional backlash leaves the reader flat.

Easton's greatest sin is the same of many authors: all telling and not enough show. The concepts on which the novel rest are fascinating, but reading the novel becomes a cerebral experience rather than an emotional one. Indeed, Easton's language choices clearly demonstrate his extensive academic background, making the novel less approachable for the layman reader. Nevertheless, for a challenging moral read, science fiction fans will find WOODSMAN an interesting read.

I thought this book was pretty cool. IT is based on the telivision series which comes on Saturdays at 11:00 am on SciFi. The book is set in the near future(2058) and our first out of the solar system colonies are attacked by a once unknown alien force. Our best pilots and Starships are no match for them when we are in very little numbers, our SpaceCarriers end up shredded. Anyway, it is about an air wing called the 58th which are later called the Wild Cards since you don't know what they are going to do to the enemy next. IF you want to find out the ending, read the book and see how it turns out.

I had no previous experience with strokes. This book has a lot of info, but not as well written for a non-medical person as some of the other books available. Although the technical terms are accurate, I felt like I was back in college wading through professional jargon to get a grade, rather than simply finding answers to my questions.

the mastery with which timothy easton paints made me want to learn from THIS book rather than several others. He appears to use brighter colors (especially greens) than the other painters with instruction books which drew me in. The book is fairly short though and the instruction sections are very brief. For a basics book, I would prefer one that started from square 1 (or even zero) whereas this book seems to jump ahead pretty quickly.
I would say this book is a good companion to "All About Techniques in Oil" which gives more instruction. However, I continue to look at this book for the author's fabulous examples and use of vivid colors.

This fourth volume of the Organic_Future series is perhaps the best, in that it combines new ideas and likable characters. Has a new setting, out in space. However like the rest of the series it will never make it to a list of 'truly great SF'.

For those who enjoyed the first part of the series (Sparrowhawk) this will be worthwhile. The strengths of this book are 1) continuity (but very little overlap) with the first volume 2) a likable set of characters and 3) a constant stream of action moments. However this volume does not introduce any interesting new concepts, nor is there a believable plot. Note that the title does not refer to the topic customary in SF-books.

The fifth volume in the Organic_Future series uses the same background as the series but one century into the future. Otherwise it has little to do with the series. It reads more like a war novel, where brave people struggle against a powerful and cruel suppressor with great sacrifice.