in tin soldier,michael farmer has written an exciting and gripping story with combat scenes that have you as riveted as anything by harold coyle and interesting characters that leave you waiting anxiously for his next work

I served 12 years as an Armor officer and it is refreshing to read a fivtion novel written by an Armor officer because I know it will be full of facts and not assumptions of how the military operates.

This book is an outstanding read and a real page turner. I read the whole thing in two days and craved more after the last page.

I hope the author finds the time to write another novel concerning tank warfare. If he does I will be the first one in line to get it.

An astounding first novel from Michael Farmer. A very possible war as seen from the point of view of the soldiers, at the company level, and occasionaly at the brigade level.

It compares very well to Harold Coyle's "Team Yankee". It is about the soldiers themselves, the fighting troops who get their hands dirty doing the actual work. This book keeps you focussed on the battle at hand.

"Tin Soldiers" also has a touch of Ralph Peter's "Red Army" to it, in that it takes the odd unexpected twist. What if American troops are outnumbered and vulnerable to their enemies weapons?

I can't wait for his next book.

A well-researched collection of ghost stories, ranging from the
beginning of Texas history through the late 1880s-early 1990s. Unlike a lot of writers on this topic, Docia Shultz Williams makes the effort to conduct interviews, and do research, rather than (for the most part) rely on "this happened to a friend of a friend of a friend"-type recollections. Most of the recent stories claim to be first-hand accounts, and the rather substantive bibliography at the back shows actual research and investigation was done. Further, the author shows admirable restraint in not embellishing the stories told her with extra "spooky" details to punch them up, which makes the stories themselves more believable. Very entertaining, especially if you are familiar with this part of Texas.

Ghosts along the Texas Coast is a fun and mystical tribute to unexplained phenomenon in Texas. As a native Texan, I heard many of these stories growing up, and to read the book brought back those eerie feelings I had as a child, at the same time decreasing my skepticism and leaving me wondering."How do you explain that?!"

Docia does a great job of recreating old Texas ghost stories as well as modern ones. Informative as well as entertaining.

"Ultimatum" was R.J. Pineiro's second published techno-thriller. Unlike his more recent novels that deal with the computer/high tech industry, this novel is a military thriller that takes place soon after Desert Storm. Saddam Hussein has nuclear missiles and is readying them for deployment against neighboring countries and U.S. troops stationed in the area.

The central figure, Lt. Kevin Dalton, is a fighter pilot in-training who nearly is stripped of his ability to fly due to the direct disobedience of orders. However, the CG makes an exception and gives Dalton another chance. Dalton doesn't make the best of his second chance and is soon on the run from the Iraqis. He meets a Mossad agent named Khalela and soon they join forces to locate where Hussein is producing his weapons. What ensues is a non-stop, action-filled search that concludes with a resounding climax. The door is left open for a sequel and Pineiro took advantage of that with his next novel entitled "Retribution".

While a departure from the them of his later novels, "Ultimatum" is a highly entertaining read and most of the statements regarding military weaponry, planes, etc. seem fairly accurate. If you enjoy military thrillers with little fluff, I recommend giving "Ultimatum" a read. If you find this one enjoyable, read the sequel although it's more of a spy thriller than military thriller.

WOW!!! Even though I am only in eigth grade,that's what came into my mind after I finished this book. It is a really great book and if you like war and action books, read this one. It also has a touch of romance in it between the two really MAIN characters, Leutenent Dalton and Kahlela. Touching too. Trust me. You'll like it. It's AWESOME!

This is so far the Best book I have ever read! Far better than Chakespear, there is an excitement that pushed me not to stop reading it. You'll learn a lot about military Scramble situations this masterpiece makes you feel in the middle of the thing, the only problem some one may face reading the book is that the more you read the more you can't stop reading it and the thing is that when you approch the end you'll probably wish the story does not end. This book will make some one think about the real values of life, it can completely change your personality.

Bayou Farewell by Mike Tidwell is a first-rate book and highly recommended. This book is about the loss of land along coastal Louisiana. At a rate of about 25 sqaure miles (or more) per year, Louisiana is losing the shallow water estuary that both supports a very productive fishing industry and offers storm surge protection during hurricanes. The reasons for the loss of land are presented in the book. With the sense of a road-trip adventurer, Mike Tidwell researched this issue by hitch-hiking his way up and down the bayous so that he could talk to and gather information from residents, fishermen, and scientists. The result is a report that combines scientific facts with cultural insight into what makes this region of the US a national treasure. Every American should read this book because this is a national issue that rarely gets reported in the media. If you like seafood, enjoy Cajun culture or like to visit New Orleans, then you should read this book. I particularly appreciated Mike Tidwell's ability to weave scientific discussions (e.g., river geomorphology) with cultural information such as the annual blessing of the fleet. This is an engaging and enlightening book. Read it soon before the story comes to a tragic ending.

I would never proclaim a book "great", as I am not experienced enough in this area with regard to form/prose/etc...However, I do believe in labeling a book as "entertaining", as this is much more subjective (what are reviews for, right?) Tidwell's book is one of the most enjoyable and entertaining I can remember reading. I have lived in Louisiana for over ten years, and was able to recall many of Tidwell's descriptions as he recounted visits with most of the "players" in the Lower Louisiana coastal area, as well as with the bureaucratic brick-walls standing in the way (locally and nationally). An intricate pattern is woven by Tidwell, demonstrating how one industry/community/culture can have a domino effect on many others. READ THIS BOOK and TAKE ANY ACTION POSSIBLE!

I was born and raised in New Orleans. In the 60's we built a fishing camp southeast of N.O. out of the town of Empire, La. A 15 minute boat ride, we were deep in the Gulf Salt Marsh and about 3 miles from the actual Gulf. We set power poles in the thick muck to build our 30' by 30' camp. The mosquitoes and racoons were everywhere--and the redfish, speckled trout, oysters and shrimp were bountiful. Over the next 25 years we watched the marsh slowly "drown" and disappear--eventually having our camp sitting in open water. Our knowledge of where the "edges" of the bayou used to be is the only way we can get back to the camp--now, without the marsh grass to use as a guide. Mike Tidwell has done a marvelous job of describing a real ecological/sociological disaster in the making--while much of Louisiana and the nation snoozes on. I have been to most of the places he describes. Spent many an hour fishing in the oil pipeline canals never realizing the damage they were quietly creating. I have trawlled for shrimp in some of those places he mentions, and Tidwell does an excellent job of creating a real picture for the reader through his word choices. I can't imagine how someone would not enjoy reading this. I fear that it might be too late--but Tidwell does an admirable job of bringing the problem to focus from a variety of viewpoints.

Excellent book!!! Haselkorn brings a new dimension to our understanding of the Gulf War. In a nutshell Haselkorn argues that the reason the Coalition did not go "all the way" to Bagdad was due to the Chemical/Biological threat posed by Saddam. This is a fascinating thesis, though Haselkorn, in my opinion places to much weight on some flimsy evidence. Haselkorn argues that when the Iraqis fired a Scud missile at Israel with a concrete block attached instead of a warhead it was intended to warn Israel and the coalition that Saddam was prepared to fire missiles with biological warheads. Haselkorn further argues that the concrete block was intended to be seen as some kind of biological delivery vehicle. Is it not far more likely that in the heat of battle the Iraqis fired a missile with a dummy training round or that due to the pressure of the coalition bombing explosive warheads were not available? There are any number of reason why the Iraqis could have fired a missile with a concrete warhead, I think its a stretch to say that because the Iraqis fired a concrete warhead they were signaling their intenion to escalate to Chemical and Biological weapons. Nonetheless, this is an informative, well researched and well written book; moreover, it forces the reader to take a new look at the more conventional histories of the Gulf War. Good read, worth the money!!!!

Avigdor Haselkorn provides a very serious examination of the weapons of mass destruction available to Iraq during the Gulf War and presents a sobering insight into the dangers that the possession of these weapons by the Iraqi regime presents to it's neighbours and the West today.

A very well-timed book in view of current events.

The book also examines the circumstances surrounding the reasons why the Gulf War was so abruptly terminated. Some arguing that the coalition might have collapsed if any further advances had been made into Iraq, others of the opinion that such allied actions would have forced the use of Iraq weapons of mass destruction. Other opinions leave the matter open to some debate.

Although a military defeat for Iraq, it was a conflict that did not remove the Iraqi dictator's regime from power. We now face the inevitable consequences and the world is in a turmoil as to how to approach the present situation.

The contents of this book are disturbing. The weapons of mass destruction available are examined in some detail together with the effects that the delivery of these weapons could have on the military or the civilian populace. One cannot but remain convinced that this matter is as dangerous and significant now as it was at the time of the Gulf War. Recommended read.

"[This book] is an essential companion to whatever other reading one does on the Gulf War. The Continuing Storm is a highly readable and extremely valuable book for understanding not only the American decision to end the war and the continuation in power of Saddam's regime, but also the impact of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of ruthless regimes and the psychology of 'terrorist deterrence.' Its insights are keen and its scholarship is thorough, as evidenced by more than 900 footnotes, many of them containing multiple citations and informative content. This is not a book just for scholars and experts, however; it is written also for the interested layman."ÿ

This book is more than a war story. It digs deep into the discrimanation women still face in the military. This Army Major had to fight to be part of a combat unit and volunteerily went to Desort Storm. She is a Doctor and Pilot, who cares deeply about the military and her patients. She realizes she could make more money in the "civilian" world, but her love is with the Army. This story tells what she went through with her family and fellow soldiers while enduring the hardships of war and being away from home. It also tells the story of her being one of only two women POW's of the war. It is a great story that definitely inspired me to be the best Marine I can be. Read this book. Semper Fi!

Having read her story and heard her speak, I admire and respect Col Cornum. She comes across as a true military leader, someone I would enjoy knowing. This is a well-written book and definitely a worthwhile purchase. Being a military leader myself (as described in "Navy Greenshirt: A Leader Made, Not Born"), I recognize the good ones when they come along.

Truly an excellent and moving description. I served with now COL Rhonda Cornum and I can vouch for her exceptional leadership and that she IS a real life American Hero flesh and blood.
I read this book in 2 sittings. After reading it the next time I saw her made me want to give her a hug. Instead I made due with a crisp good morning salute. To Army leadership: This IS a MUST read.

This was an awesome book and I have read it numerous times. Being a Gulf War Veteran I read just about every book that came out right after the Gulf War to see what the various authors had to say about a war that affected millions of us and that 500,000 plus American attended/participated in. I no longer read books on the Gulf war because most of it is political dribble trying to explain what did not happen, Now it seems that it is more convient for some to write lies then the truth, no such thing as Gulf War Syndrome right. Enough of politics that is why I like this book, because it put everything in perspective using humor.

If you are not a veterans it will still be funny to most of you.

This will always be one of my favorite books on the Gulf War. I especially liked the chapter on the Red Rope Ranger. I laugh out loud every time I think about it!

I met Barry at King Fahd International Airport when he interviewed me and several folks in my unit, the 511th Tactical Fighter Squadron. My story didn't make the final cut but you've got to read about our Flight Surgeon, Major Smith, and his war trophy!

Bruce Roberts and Ray Jones produce the best lighthouse travel guides available. This one is no exception.

First, this book is chocked full of Bruce Roberts' beautiful photographs of the lighthouses in this region. The photographs are nothing less than SPECTACULAR! Combined with the revised and updated information on each makes this regional lighthouse guide a requirement you won't want to be without whether you're visiting the region or a life-long resident. The text contains full, rich descriptions of each lighthouse, too.

I have many lighthouse books and all of Bruce Roberts' and Ray Jones' regional guides. I've read them all and used most of them while traveling. I've found them to be first rate, an excellent choice for people who want everything lighthouse between two covers. A joy to look at and informative to read.

There are directions and other info for finding and visiting lighthouses. They do not always show all lights for a given area. The photos are all color. I own 3 of these books. There are not many other guide books out there so if you are looking for guide books these are good to have. Since there are so many books in this series I thought I'd help people find them easier. This is the series.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
American Lighthouses
California Lighthouses
Eastern Great Lakes Lighthouses - I own this one
Western Great Lakes Lighthouses - I own this one
Southeastern Lighthouses - I own this one
Southern Lighthouses
New England Lighthouses
Mid Atlantic Lighthouses
Gulf Coast Lighthouses

A good book for nearly anyone. There is plenty of excitement and it is full of sea knowledge. My only complaint is that there are dreary sections filled with the author's life philosophy that I found quite boring, and ended up skipping over.

Books should have a central theme, and the philosophy blurred whatever the theme was supposed to be. A good editor would have removed most of it.

I absolutely loved this book, and am looking forward to reading it again. Carlos' narrations combined with his twist on words paints a picture even the most land locked reader can imagine. As a marine enthusiast and student, it is wonderful to read works from hunters who also appreciate the undersea world and respect its power and importance.

The Blue Edge is Carlos Eyles latest book. It is a pseudo-diary of the authors sixty-five day journey aboard the Nirvana with his friends Jack and Pam. He journeys through the Sea of Cortez to the San Benedicto islands. The journey is on one level a journey from the once bountiful Sea of Cortez to near pristine San Benedicto islands. On another level it is a journey through man's impact on the ocean in the infinitesimal slice of geographic time that man has populated the planet. On an introspective level it is a journey through one man's search for balance and his link to the ocean, and to himself.

The word "mystical" has been used to describe the writing of the book. "Mystical" implies something apart from the human experience. The Blue Edge is experiential. It is about experiences that we all face. It is apropos that the boat is named Nirvana, which is the Buddhist term for "enlightenment." Some of the things that the Buddha realized on the road to enlightenment were, that the world is suffering, all things are impermanent, and that there is no Self. The Blue Edge takes us through part of that journey. It shows us the pain, and the joy, as one man struggles with finding his place in the world. As he tries to balance his love for the ocean, his love for his family, and his love for himself.

Carlos leads the reader through the fragile, and thus transitory, illusion of the permanence of job, family, possessions, and our natural resources. He describes how man's greed, and ego, has affected the balance of the once pristine waters of the Sea of Cortez, and how it also is taking its toll on the San Benedicto islands.

For the spearfishmen this is the journey that some of us go through in our diving careers. Our pictures of full stringers of fish on our desks and walls. Our attempts to give permanence to a moment in time. Our attempts to catch the "most" fish. As our diving careers progress we find we take fewer and fewer shots looking for the "right" fish. The contrast Carlos paints with Jack, who is struggling to find his place in his relationship with Pam and with the ocean, and the spearfishermen aboard the Ambar III that are dumping the carcasses of the filleted fish into the water, to Brian Yoshikawa not taking any shots waiting for the 200 pound tuna.

The Blue Edge may be difficult reading for people who have no ties to the ocean, since the sixty-five day journey is aboard a boat. It, however, is must reading for anyone who spends any time with the ocean. The book encapsulates our life journey in those sixty-five days. It gives us glimpses of Nirvana (enlightenment) through Carlos's eyes. It is this poignant glimpse which is what wraps us up page after page, because we feel from the very beginning of the book that Nirvana is not to be attained for Carlos at this time. The struggles through the grinding teeth of sharks, and lawnmowers, is something the ocean takes us through. The longing to play in the ocean, the longing for wealth, the longing for pleasure, the longing for the kill. The experiences Carlos goes through in The Blue Edge shows us that "Nirvana", on one level, or more simply the struggle to find balance with the ocean, on a lower level, is unattainable as long as we long to possess it.

Although this book is about a 48-year old divorced man, which is not the kind of subject matter I normally look for in my reading material, I decided to give this one a shot anyway, and I am so glad I did! This book is entertaining: it's hard to put down and there were several laugh-out-loud moments to be found. I really enjoyed this book, although I must say that the ending was rather anticlimactic, overall I would definitely recommend it. Enjoy!

Gerald Duff's Coasters is a deftly written novel that alternates between dark comedy and surreal tragedy as it chronicles Waylon McPhee, a divorced middle-aged man who coasts through life without the escape velocity he once had in his youth. Entangled between his widowed father's love life and a manipulative sister who wants her inheritance before it goes to a possible second wife, Waylon juggles responsibility while struggling to recover some of the drive and spirit he once had... or at least to be something more than just another coaster. With witty, sardonic dialogue and a thought-provoking core, Coasters is original, compelling, and highly recommended.

Did you read that piece in the latest Atlantic Monthly about overrated, ill-written books by current literary darlings? This book is a good antidote to that kind of stuff. Duff's characters talk like natural people, only funnier. And he doesn't lay a lot of woolly lyricism on you--he shows people getting up to things. These are real literary values.