"Mythology" covers all the major and most minor Greek, Norse and Roman gods, goddesses, stories and locales. Edith Hamilton makes no pretenses that this is all there is to say on mythology, but she gives a reader a fine start.

Hamilton puts them into sensible structures so beginners can learn in a context which are easy to understand. She provides major section titles helping readers get straight to the required story, like "Stories of Love and Adventure" You'll find "Cupid and Psyche" as a chapter.

Chapters are named mostly by story like, "The Trojan War."

She quotes from the sources, so the reader knows how it is she got her information.

Character-driven in format, readers can look up a name, find the subtitle with that name, and read why that character matters. She writes narratively, sounding a little like "Cliff's Notes." This is a good thing, because the poetry from which these myths are drawn can be overwhelming.

Nicely organized is the geneological table section. It looks like a family tree, in a English royalty kind of way.

As a writer, I use it for a quick reference guide. I usually only need a few nuggets of information, and she gives me plenty. I first acquired it high school, using it to get out of those tough jams when I did not understand books like "The Odyssey," by Homer.

More than mere reference, "Mythology" is good reading for no other purpose than serendipitous curiosity.

I fully recommend it.

Anthony Trendl

Edith Hamilton's Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes is a very basic, very popular and very good text for the introduction of Greek and Roman mythology. In our Western culture, the term 'mythology' is most often equated with these tales, and this book, first written before World War II, has helped to reinforce that equation with the current generations of readers.

Those looking for the mythological stories of other cultures will be disappointed -- with the exception of a brief section on Norse mythology at the end (about five percent of the entire volume), it covers nothing outside the Greek and Roman pantheons. Of course, part of the difficulty of approaching mythology of other cultures is that, in many instances, it is not mythology to them; or, in the case of mythology, one needs a firmer grounding in the culture and religious aspects of that culture before the mythology becomes accessible.

Hamilton (raised, as I was astonished to discover, in Indiana, where I currently reside) studied at Bryn Mawr, and had a distinguished teacher career in addition to writing this useful text. Hamilton's writing is not complicated and very easy to follow -- this has made this text one used in high school and undergraduate courses in Greek and Roman mythology more frequently perhaps than any other text produced in this century.

Hamilton begins the text with an essay giving an overview of what mythology is, and what the purpose of it was.

'Through it,' she wrote, 'we can retrace the path from civilised man who lives so far from nature, to man who lived in close companionship with nature; and the real interest of the myths is that they lead us back to a time when the world was young and people had a connection with the earth, with trees and seas and flowers and hills, unlike anything we ourselves can feel.'

She proceeds with a brief history of the development of Greek mythology, the origins of the stories lost in the mists of time. She tells of the influences of Greek thought on subsequent developments in thought and religion: 'Saint Paul said the invisible must be understood by the visible. That was not a Hebrew idea, it was Greek.' Unlike most religious constructs, the Greek mythological world tried to make sense of the greater life of the universe in terms that were very human indeed, with a minimum of mystery. 'The terrifying irrational has no place in classical mythology.'

This is not to say, of course, that there were not terrible stories and fantastic creatures -- indeed, the mythological stories are full of them -- Gorgons and hydras and chimaeras dire. But these are mostly metaphorical (and were understood as such), and primarily used for a hero to be made (this same idea has pervaded to the most recent Mission Impossible movie).

Hamilton proceeds after this essay to describe the members of the pantheon, the major and minor gods and goddesses, the ideas of creation, the heroes (human, semi-divine and divine), stories of love and devotion, justice and injustice, and, of course, of warfare, victory, defeat, and courage. Those heroes before the Trojan War, perhaps the Greek-mythological-equivalent of a world war, had battles and dire circumstances to fight and overcome. The Trojan War figured largely in the mythological frameworks of Greece and Rome -- all the gods and goddess were involved in this conflict, it seemed, as were many of the heroes of Greek mythology.

Hamilton, writing in a fairly conservative period of time, and in a fairly conservative culture, sanitised the mythological stories to a large extent. The Greeks were a very human and often rather bawdy bunch; the Romans were even moreso. Much of the sexuality in the mythological stories is omitted, save to demonstrate the less-desirable aspects. Quite often, undergraduates who study mythology are astonished to discover, if they had used Hamilton's text in an earlier high school setting, that there is a lot more sex and violence in the 'real' stories than they had been previously exposed to.

Of course, one of the primary aspects of the mythological tales was not to explain the cosmos or to build complex theological constructs (reason did these, often with help from the myths, but not using the myths as the basis), but rather the illustration of moral truths -- those of honesty, virtue, and courage as primarily valued in Greek and Roman society. Evil befalls those who do not lead a moral life; rewards come to those who do. Of course, there is a bit of whimsy in the cosmos -- bad things happen to good people, etc., even in ancient Greece. The fluctuating personalities of the gods (and the number of them) ultimately gives a satisfying explanation (if not a satisfying reason) why such things might occur.

Hamilton's book is a good one to use in teaching, but it must not be considered the final authority on any of the topics it addresses. Nonetheless, it has earned its place in the pantheon of influential books, and will most likely continue to be so for some time to come.

I've done quite a bit of reading about greek (and roman) mythology and I still enjoyed this book. They way the myths are writen is so good that I could almost feel myself back in ancient Greece, observing the scenes. I also enjoyed the quotes from the original source where the myth was told (e.g. The Odyssey, The Illiad, etc). Overall this is a good basic classical mythology book. Even people who already know these myths should read this book if only for the delightful manner in which they are told. For someone who cannot match a roman god to his greek conterpart this might require flipping back to the first chapter. If you pay attention the first time you read it you shouldn't have any trouble with this.

Near the end of the book there are a couple norse myths. That's it. If your looking for a book that has myths from more than just Greece/Rome you'll be disappointed. However if you looked at the table of contents and noticed the lack of other cultural myths (and still wanted to read the book) you should be extremely satisfied. I know i was...

Like a lot of readers who've read this book, I also think the title is misleading. Perhaps this is the reason that I was taken aback by some of the more lurid plot. This would've been a better book if the author had spared Steve and Ginny, not to mention the readers, just a few of the numerous ghastly events that befall them. It's similar to what soap opera characters go through. So, if you enjoy watching soap operas and are not squeamish, then you would find this book "a juicy good read." One thing to be said for the book is that it leaves a strong impression, for better or for worse. After finishing this one, I couldn't wait to read the two sequels mainly because I had a morbid curiosity to see what other tortures the author would inflict upon Steve and Ginny. I was not disappointed! In conclusion, I think the book is certainly "savage" enough, but there is barely any "love".

I originally read this book when I was 15 years old and enjoyed it then, however, my mother loved this book and became a dedicated follower of the author. After reading 'Sweet Savage Love' years later, 1997, I discovered why she fell in love with the book, then. The novelist broke all the rules in the 1970s. The novelist made groundbreaking steps for new writers to emerge and shamelessly pen steamy, sensual and very graphic sexual or lovemaking scenes. Rosemary Rogers was one of the first to walk that untrodden path of penning explicit sex, however, Rosemary Rogers has a passion for sexual assault, as found in many of her books. The genre that every woman wants to be raped by her lover is ridiculous, especially if you've ever been forced to submit against your will (which obviously Rogers has not had to experience). But in Ginny and Steve's case, I believe that Ginny submitted because she wanted to. She allowed Steve to 'assault' her because she was just as enthralled with Steve Morgan as he with she. Lust ruled their relationship. They both were strong willed stubborn people whom were first attracted through lust. Love, if it did, came much later, after their children were grown in 'Bound By Desire'. But I enjoyed 'Sweet Savage Love' and enjoyed the characters. But I am not a fan of Rosemary Rogers. One negative fault with Rogers is the permiscuous nature of Ginny. Taboo. Not accepted by many romance readers. Romance readers can deal with the male's permiscuous activities, however, if he doesn't get his act together and loves the heroine with total devotion towards the end of the novel, then he is considered a candidate for penicillin and obviously lacks understanding on the definition of love. But 'Sweet Savage Love' still remains an all-time favorite of mine. What kept 'Sweet Savage Love' a favorite of mine was the excitement and adventure of capturing the gold, being on the run from the law, toppling governments and thwarting armies, etc. Steve Morgan was in essence an 1860s 'James Bond'. Yes, he is a 'secret service' agent for the United States government. A profession you don't find in many historical American romance novels. So if you enjoy excitement, adventure, intrique, and some 'I Spy', combined with passion, spunk, and plain old 'lust', you'll enjoy the timeless classic 'Sweet Savage Love'. But reader beware, this is not your typical romance novel and if you're a devoted fan of Johanna Lindsay, stay away from 'Sweet Savage Love'.

Who would have thought that the love story of Steve Morgan and Ginny Brandon could span four books and still leave you wanting to read more. This series is the ultimate in historical romance books. I have read all four several times, and they leave me finding all other books of similar genre pale in comparison.

Of the four books, the first one is the best, but the other three are great. He is one tough hombre. She has suffered and survived as well, and no matter what they do, they continue to love each other. Though both of them have made mistakes and have been unfaithful, their love is stronger than hate, jealousy, and revenge. It is timeless.

Please, Ms. Rogers, write another Steve and Ginny book. There should also be one about Franco, their son.

I liked this book. I knew C++, but had no clue about Visual C++. Hell, I even know Visual Basic, but when it came trying to figure out VC++, I was lost. If you are in the same boat as I am, then I HIGHLY recommend this book for a first VC++ book. It has many great step through examples that are easy to follow. It is true that it doesn't get into too much detail about the inner workings of Windows or C++, but I wasn't expecting that. It goes over most major topics with VC++ though. COM,SDI,MDI,ActiveX even a bit with some DirectX stuff. At the moment I am going though the ENTIRE book, and learning about more of these topics that I initially skipped. I HIGHLY recommend this book if you already C, or C++ and want to learn VC++ rather quickly and easily.

This book , has done much for me and I believe It would be as so for any one who wants to develop real applications capable of all Technological features of computers.

It introduces almost all components of a visual program , including Report Lists (tables like in Excel) , menus , File Operations , and Multimedia (the important components of a game , DirectX ! ).

It also makes you familiar with basic Algorithms and Code segments that do the real work for your program , such as a Painting Application and a Database application.

But the most important feature is that you will EVERYTIME REFER TO THIS BOOK . I own many other hardcopy and online books on Visual C++ , but none of them has any use when compared to this one.

The price is also very reasonable , what I suggest is to omit all the new colorful covered books and buy this book , unless a new updated edition is not published.

If you are new to Visual Studio and Visual C++ - including MFC, ActiveX, etc..., then you need this book. This book teaches the essential skills you need to develop applications in the Windows environment using Visual C++. This book assumes you have a good knowledge of C++ and Object Oriented Programming with C++. The authors do a wonderful job of walking you through everything you need to know - including: dialogue,single document, and multiple document based programs. The English is very clear and concise. This is one of the few books with good style. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who is starting out in this area of programming. After reading this book, you may want to get into more details. Frankly, I think this book and Michael J. Young's "Mastering Visual C++ 6" published by Sybex is one of the better combinations to have. See for yourself! =)

The circumstances and situations that lead to the duel and subsequent death of Alexander Hamilton, at the hands of Aaron Burr, are grounds for great historical debate. Prior to reading Thomas Fleming's "Duel" I was taught to believe that Hamilton accused Burr of incest and that Burr hesitated before fatally shooting Hamilton in the groin. After reading "Duel" I have a better and more importantly, concrete, understanding of the events that brought about and transpired on the day Alexander Hamilton was shot.

Thomas Fleming takes time to explain the political motives and major players of the early 1800s. Fleming explains family life, work life, political life and general media approval or disapproval of Hamilton and Burr by way of newspaper printings. This method of explanation leaves no gaps for conspiracy theories and gives the reader concrete information to make their own assumptions. Fleming remains very objective throughout the book, never taking either mans' side in the situation or showing too little or too much sympathy for the characters involved. The inevitable outcome of the book was not up for debate but the exact actions and repercussions have been and Fleming does a terrific job to explain, while not dictating, his understanding of this American story. I highly recommend "Duel" to anyone interested in history, politics, the person on the ten-dollar bill, and/or Aaron Burr.

"Duel" by Thomas Fleming is a seductive and complex account of the final phase of the political struggle between President Jefferson, his Federalist nemesis, Alexander Hamilton, and one of the supreme villains of the early American republic, Aaron Burr, the almost-president. Unusual in its perspective that tells very little, only what is necessary, about Jefferson and Hamilton's Revolutionary War days, the book portrays Jefferson very unsympathetically, perhaps with reason, as a backstage political manipulator who does his dirty work through proxies while suavely staying above the fray. From the newspaper editor he suborns to libel George Washington, to his campaign to undermine Burr in his quest for new political life after Jefferson engineers his ouster from the 1804 national ticket, Jefferson emerges as a very modern politician, hardly the marble figure overlooking the Tidal Basin. Fleming's view of Jefferson is very close to the portrait painted by Gore Vidal in his fictional autobiography, "Burr," years ago, and which was also, incidentally, a very good read. As a sometime sympathizer of Burr, whose supposed villainy, at least before his unfortunate Western adventure, is never really explained here or elsewhere, I appreciated Fleming's balanced account, which made clear that Hamilton, not Burr was the instigator of the duel. There is an echo of Clinton (William J., not George or DeWitt) in the book, but who is it? Is it Hamilton, the pillar of financial rectitude who, having saved the finances of the Republic, has to toil all night by candlelight to earn enough money to support his family, as Talleyrand remarks in wonder to his friends, but who is so delusional that he sees himself as persecuted when he reveals devastatingly lurid personal correspondence with his paramour to prove his involvement with her was not pecuniary? Or is it Burr, who appears even in this sympathetic portrayal to be somewhat at the mercy of the latest wave of public opinion and who sems to find nothing inimical about secession, a prospect that Hamilton fights against despite his loathing of Jefferson? Or is it Jefferson himself, who schemes and politics to destroy his opponents behind the scenes? This was fascinating book, that moved rivetingly to the climax, with vividly drawn characters and a wealth of fascinating detail. A few minor cavils--Fleming repeatedly refers to American "ambassadors" abroad and the British "ambassador" to the U.S> even though American diplomats even into the late 19th Century only carried the rank of Minister. The references to "General" Hamilton were also jarring at times, but I put this down to a desire to convey to the reader how Hamilton was in fact addressed daily at the time. An interesting side speculation-- the exact insult that triggered the final fateful meeting at Weehawken may never be known, but Vidal says in his fictional work that Hamilton told his friends that Burr had slept with his own daughter, Theodosia! Read this book!

This is a great book because it really makes the historical figures discussed come alive. If you're the type of person who can't deal with seeing your personal historical heroes dissected, then this is not the book for you. Stick with haigiography. If, on the other hand, you have mature tastes and are ready for a "warts and all" approach, then dive into Duel. You'll learn that the true story behind the famous "interview at Weehawken" was much more complex than what you may have learned in school. Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr were all brilliant but flawed men. Hamilton was a notorious womanizer. Jefferson had trouble living up to his lofty rhetoric. Burr was too ambitious for his own good. The world of the early U.S. republic was too small for three such massive egos. This book, while it does not rehabilitate Burr completely, does help the reader understand why he killed Hamilton. In the end, these men are portrayed as they probably really were--human beings with foibles and flaws, not giants who loomed over the landscape like demigods. Far from being "fiction," this book is an example of how a skillful writer/historian can make an esoteric subject a fascinating case study but putting it in its proper context. If you have any interest at all in Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson or post-Revolutionary War history, do not miss Duel.

Who were the ancient Greeks and why do they still move us? Their society is as alien to us as their language. Yet Greece still beckons us more than two millennia since the fall of Athens. The pinnacle of Greek culture lasted a mere century, yet it has left its mark on all of western society. The great intellectual institutions, such as philosophy, science and literature, originated in Greece. Beyond these marvels, however, lies a value so fundamentally important - and enduring - that a basic understanding of the Greeks is as important today as ever.

In The Greek Way, author Edith Hamilton covers the height of Greek culture in the 5th century BC. She begins by contrasting the east and west - an approach that becomes clear as one reads along. The east, according to Hamilton, stood for faith and force, while Greece embodied the opposite values of reason and freedom. Early in the book, Hamilton writes: "In a world where the irrational had played the chief role, they (the Greeks) came forward as the protagonists of the mind." Thus, the Greeks introduced to the world the idea that the universe was orderly, that man's senses were valid and, as a consequence, that man's proper purpose was to live his own life to the fullest. These are discoveries that many westerners take for granted today, but not Edith Hamilton. Throughout the book, she constantly reminds the reader of the awe and beauty of the Greek spirit.

An important corollary of the Greek view that the world is knowable was their belief in the supremacy of independence. Hamilton paints a vivid portrait of the major Greek writers, statesmen and philosophers, all of whom possessed just such an intransigent commitment to independence. She writes: "Authoritarianism and submissiveness were not the direction it (the Greeks' spirit) pointed to. A high-spirited people full of physical vigor do not obey easily..." and further: "...each man must himself be a research worker in the truth if he were ever to attain to any share in it..."

5th century Athens was also the birthplace of political freedom. Though Hamilton does not provide a thorough analysis of this great development, she does offer hints throughout. In her chapter on the historian Herodotus, she explains his view of the Greeks during the war against the Persians: "A free democracy resisted a slave-supported tyranny." "Mere numbers were powerless against the spirit of free men fighting to defend their freedom." Why did Herodotus believe that free men were more powerful? Hamilton answers: "The basis of Athenian democracy was the conviction...that the average man can be depended upon to do his duty and to use good sense in doing it. Trust the individual was the avowed doctrine in Athens, and expressed or unexpressed it was common to Greece."

The Greeks, contrary to popular myth, were not a particularly religious people. While it is true that they had their gods, it is important to note that they did not place great importance on mystical beliefs. Indeed, what gods they did revere were the opposite of the Christian doctrine that man was made "in God's image." The Greek gods were made in the image of man. They were neither omnipotent nor omnipresent. Hamilton contrasts the Greek and eastern views of religion: "Before Greece, all religion was magical." She further illustrates that mystical beliefs were based on fear of the unknown, whereas the Greeks "changed a world that was full of fear into a world full of beauty."

A minor flaw in Hamilton's book is her overuse of examples, particularly in the chapters where she discusses the playwrights Aristophanes, Æschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. Though she deftly contrasts the Greek way of writing with the eastern and modern approaches, the reader drowns in the minutiae. Hamilton was perhaps attempting to impress the reader with her depth of knowledge, but given the tone of the rest of the book, these examples disrupt her otherwise clear and concise writing.

The Greek Way is a joy to read. In it, Hamilton presents an integrated view of ancient Greece and the important legacy left for modern man. She successfully shows that the Greeks were rational, purposeful and happy people, intent on achieving their values in this world. If one could choose a single expression that characterizes the essence of Greek values, it is man worship. The Greeks worshiped man for what he was and what he could be. In Edith Hamilton's The Greek Way, we see that spirit shine brightly down through the ages.

For those enmeshed in the academic world, this book provides a brilliant and decidedly non-academic analysis of Greek culture. This latter point often results in unfounded criticism of this marvelous book (which reads as easily as a novel, by the way). Rather than endless footnotes and a fear of over-generalizing, Hamilton makes bold and forceful statements unlike what you'll find in the modern university classroom. Moreover, she doesn't kowtow to any multiculturalist notions of cultural relativism. She's very clear in her loyalties to the Greeks and their world-centered, life-embracing culture while describing the torturous lifestyles elsewhere (e.g. Egypt and India) with such vivid language, that one wonders how mysticism ever persisted into the modern epoch at all. I recommend this book for anyone interested in learning about the Greek spirit and its unique and proper place at the cornerstone of our modern, technological, world-centered world.

This book is a great little collection of essays explaining why the Greeks are important to us. I hadn't looked into it for years, and was very surprised to see how much had stuck with me from my earliest reading.

The Greeks were champions of reason, and were the first society on record to relegate the priesthood to a marginal role.

The Greek word "school" derives from their word for leisure, for the Greeks naturally assumed that anyone who had the blessing of leisure would use that time in the pursuit of knowledge, truth, and wisdom. Their word, "philosophy," means "the love of wisdom."

Modern America, of course, seems to believe that people who are blessed with leisure will use that time in the pursuit of "leisure activities," a category which includes playing golf, going camping, fishing, flying, playing baseball -- but never ever includes any sort of mental activity.

Why?

There's much more in here. The Greeks stood one hundred percent in favor of freedom, against despotism and mysticism. They felt that anyone who could not speak his mind was nothing better than a slave. How many people in American universities feel like "slaves" today, when there are so many thoughts that simply cannot be uttered? ("Males and females are biologically different, and are not interchangeable parts" would certainly be one of those thoughts which would terminate an academic career "with extreme prejudice" as they say.)

Read this book to open your eyes to the wonders of European history. It's not academic at all. It states passionate opinions with passion. The opinions are, by and large, completely admirable and justifiable.

It is not possible to find another origin to Western civilization. Science, democracy, and physics were born here. An admirable and courageous people, really brilliant.

Highest recommendation!!

"A Cold Day in Paradise", Hamilton's first novel, was outstanding! For some reason I lost track of him, and just by chance picked this paperback up when I was in book withdrawal. Although not as interesting, plot-wise, as A Cold Day...this third instalment has a lot to recommend it.

The star of Hamilton's books is the setting....Michigan's Upper Peninsula; a region with so little charm that one wonders what keeps the natives there (yes, I've lived in northern Minnesota,
North Dakota, and some dreary areas in upstate New York, and all of us natives know that feeling of charm: the lack thereof!).
Hamilton captures it perfectly, and surrounds an interesting hero with a lot of small-town sidekicks you want to come to know.

In this novel, Alex doesn't spend much time at home, but traipses around Michigan with a very old friend, Randy Wilkins, who he played minor-league ball with. Randy is a character that MUST return, because he is such a well-drawn good time Charlie.

There's a lot of fits and starts....and probably too much complication in the quest for Maria, Randy's lost love. In particular, both Randy and Maria turning out to be low-lifes is just a little too much unwelcome plot. But, the story comes to a satisfactory close, with Alex eagerly returning to Paradise, and his favorite Canadian beer.

Not as good as his earlier work, but still much to enjoy in this novel!

Steven Hamilton's newest book, THE HUNTING WIND, is another home run straight out of the park. He brings back Alex McKnight (A COLD DAY IN PARADISE & WINTER OF THE WOLF MOON) for a third outing that takes a hard look at the meaning of friendship and what it entails. McKnight is in the Glasgow Inn one cold night, drinking his favorite Canadian beer, when Randy Wilkins suddenly walks in to ask for his help in locating Maria Valenescu, a woman he once loved and whom he hasn't seen in thirty years. Normally, McKnight would say no to a case like this, but Wilkins was a close friend of his when they played together in the minor leagues over three decades ago, plus he's a hard man to refuse. Together, they begin to slowly track down Maria, using information on the Internet, birth records, and knocking on doors in the old neighborhoods around Detroit. Something, however, isn't quite right. When they finally locate Maria's family, both men are beaten up and almost killed by the woman's brother. It seems that Maria has been hiding from an individual named Charles Hardwood for several years. Hardwood used to be business partners with her husband, Arthur Zambelli. When Maria's husband was mysteriously murdered, she suspected that Hardwood was the one behind it so that he could take over their real estate business and marry her after everything quieted down. Maria didn't wait around. Out of fear for herself and her daughter, she took off, moving from place to place, barely managing to stay ahead of Hardwood and his private detectives. McKnight quickly realizes that he and Wilkins have gotten caught in the middle of something very deadly. It isn't until his friend is nearly killed, however, that our Michigan detective begins to understand that nothing is quite as it seems. Everyone appears to be lying and more people are definitely about to die. McKnight puts his life on the line in order to get through the tangled web of deceit, trusting no one, not even the man who was once his best friend, fighting the temptation to run as he seeks to learn the truth of who Maria really is. THE HUNTING WIND explores the bond of friendship and what it means. Through the character of Alex McKnight, we are able to learn that the image we have of someone close to us is often only a partial glimpse into the actual person. People change, people wear masks to hide their true nature, and people lie to either protect themselves or to get what they want. How good do we actually know our friends, and how far are we willing to go for the sake of friendship? These are questions posed by the author that every man must answer sooner or later. As with his first two novels, Mr. Hamilton once again weaves an intriguing tale with underlying subplots and riveting suspense, carrying the reader on a meandering path, whose final destination is unknown. The characters are vivid and true to life, making us care, hate, desire, mistrust, and ultimately to believe in them. I especially liked Maria, feeling the intense desire for her that McKnight experiences, knowing that it would be easy for any man to succumb to her seductive manipulations. The prose is taut with not a word wasted, and it grabs the reader by the shirttails in the first couple of paragraphs, demonstrating what good writing is all about. With just three novels, Steve Hamilton has managed to take his place amongst the top authors in the field of "mystery" writing. If you're an individual who likes the "Matthew Scudder" series by Lawrence Block or the "Dave Robicheaux" books by James Lee Burke, then give the novels by Steve Hamilton a shot. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

The Hunting Wind was my introduction to Steve Hamilton and, wow, what a wonderful introduction! Here is a man who writes with humor, with assurance, and with plotting skills that are right up there with the best of the best; certainly a fine, convoluted, narrative Ross Macdonald would have been proud to have written. Alex McKnight is a weary, highly believable (and very human) former cop who once had a brief-lived baseball career. It is this former career that brings Randy Wilkins, the left-handed one-time pitcher, back into his life after thirty years. Randy is a charming chatterbox who, in many ways, is still the very young man who had a shot at the big time and blew it in the first inning of his one and only major league game. And it is Randy's desire to track down Maria, the love of his young life, that takes the two men on a journey so labyrinthine that much of the state of Michigan is traversed in pursuit of the woman. Along the way the two men encounter some of the most intriguing and eccentric characters ever to appear in print--most notably the exquisitely drawn Maria and the strangely touching Chief Rudiger.

Before writing this review I ordered Hamilton's two previous books, and I will certainly buy anything else he writes. Here is an author with enormous talent who deserves all the kudos and a wide audience.

This is a well-written and thought-provoking book, but at the same time one that I found unsatisfactory on certain levels. For one thing, as a biography, it's limited in scope, providing little information about Hamilton's life beyond his administrative and political affairs. His childhood and youth are dispensed with in about 15 pages, and the American Revolution - in which Hamilton participated as an senior aid to Washington and as combat officer - is already over by page 25, bypassing what one assumes should have been a wealth of fascinating material. His wife is mentioned no more that the few times, his children hardly at all, and we learn very little about his personal relationships with the other leading figures of his era. A life-and-times style biography was obviously not part of the author's design in the first place, and this criticism may thus be irrelevant, but a more substantive problem is the bias that pervades his book. While it's common enough for biographers to fall in love with their protagonists, Professor McDonald to carries his enthusiasm to an extreme. I'm not a historian by any means, but I've read enough to know that the men surrounding Alexander Hamilton were a prodigiously gifted array of politicians. Yet a reader who knew nothing of the period beyond the contents of this book would have the impression that they were a collection of relative mediocrities who paled in the light of Hamilton's genius. Even Washington, who comes off better than most, seems to have achieved success only through his willingness to acquiesce, most of the time, to Hamilton's unerring behind-the-scenes guidance. Hamilton's enemies are portrayed as conniving villains, and the arch-villain, Thomas Jefferson, appears to have had no purpose to his life other than to foil Hamilton's otherwise infallible blueprint for a happy and prosperous nation. The fact that Hamilton himself probably more-or-less saw his world in this light is more understandable than how a historian two centuries later could succumb the this same lack of objectivity. Despite these failings, Professor McDonald has nonetheless produced a remarkable study here, and I learned a great deal from it. What emerges is the portrait of a man who, even allowing for the author's partiality, was indeed probably the most forward-looking of his peers in his understanding of what the United States was to become. Modern Americans take for granted their colossal economic might and geopolitical dominance. Yet post-revolutionary America was a weak, divided country run by agrarians generally hostile to the formation of the finance capital and industrial enterprise. The essence of the Federalist vision for America was that establishment of a strong central government was necessary to facilitate economic development. And Hamilton's unique contribution to this vision was his understanding of the critical importance that a dynamic system of national credit and currency would play in bringing about prosperity. Hamilton was a supremely ambitious man, yet his aspirations propelled him not to be a king or a president or a conquering general. When the new American government formed following the revolution, the only post he desired - easily granted to him by Washington - was Treasury Secretary. It was from this position that he believed he could establish the monetary foundations critical to the fledging economic powerhouse he sought to nurture. His political opponents, led by Jefferson, understood this vision only too well as one that would result in a tumultuous transfer of wealth and power to industrialists and bankers, at the expense of the agrarian order they hoped to perpetuate. One insight implicit in this story, even though the author doesn't draw it for us, is the obvious nature of the link between this post-revolutionary conflict and the great civil war what was to ignite half a century later. It couldn't be clearer that it was the Federalist dream for America, well-rooted by the mid-nineteenth century, that drove the Southern Confederacy to revolt. That same dream finally emerged in full flower in the following century as Yankee industrialism triumphed and Hamilton's Dollar achieved preeminence. Hamilton's death in 1805 following a duel with Aaron Burr has to have been one of the weirdest and most dramatic incidents in American history. Yet it is characteristic of this biography that the event is described only briefly and dryly in the epilogue. Hamilton was a brilliant man, but one whose personal arrogance probably contributed unnecessarily to the partisan hatred of the post-war years and no doubt as well to his own premature demise. For me it was interesting to learn that Hamilton's son also died in a dual, three years before his father, at a time when this violent custom had become rare. This remarkable co-incidence suggests a fiery dynamic in the Hamilton family which this book leaves us totally in the dark about, as it does about many other dimensions of his life and character. To the extent Professor McDonald sought to trace Hamilton's development as a political thinker and the practical impact of his work on the nation's founding, this well-written biography succeeds admirably. However, readers seeking a balanced and full account of the man's life will have to look to other sources.

I wanted to learn more about Hamilton as the founder of the US financial system, and to understand more of his background in relation to the other founding fathers. This book did a great job of both, the author being a well published historian who has focused on the early American economy.

Mr. McDonald does a very good job of developing Hamilton's life, and the various philosophical influences that influenced him most significantly. Starting with his early life on St. Croix, his early abandonment and subsequent David Copperfield-esque determination to achieve fame in life, we are able to watch as Hamilton starts first by pursuing glory in the Revolutionary War, his close service with Washington, and how he then went to work as an attorney, and following Washington's election returned to serve his country as the first Secretary of the Treasury.

Hamilton's ambitions for the fledgling financial system are solidly shaped by his own background and hard work. It is quickly apparent how different his own background was from other founding fathers, most notably those of the South, and most poignantly Thomas Jefferson. Hamilton held himself to very high standards, his own need to be honest about an extra-marital affair is a lesson to our current politicians, and he frequently ran afoul of others because of his strong will and confidence that he was morally in the right. Hamilton was above repute with his financial dealings, preventing himself from benefitting from his own legislation and actions in an age when such was the norm. His ability to clearly divine a situation and act decisively led him to be not only an excellent litigator and legislator, but also an indispensable agent for the Government, his importance being most noted during Washington's second term in office.

All in all the author does a very good job of putting Hamilton into both the proper historical context, and helping the reader understand how he was viewed in his own time.

Favorite Excerpts:

"I would willingly risk my life tho' not my Character to exalt my Station... I wish there was a War." - Hamilton (page 5)

"He never ceased to dream of grand and heroic accomplishments, but he tempered his dreams with regular habits, reliable behavior, systematic and persistent application, and constant attention to self-improvement. He despised laziness, disorderliness, unpredictability, impropriety, procrastination, drunkennes, sloght - the ways of the islands and, as he would come to believe by 1779, the ways of most Americans as well." - McDonald on Hamilton (page 10)

"As a general marches at the head of his troops, so ought wise politicians... insomuch that they ought not to wait the event, to know what measures to take; but the measures which they have taken, ought to produce the event." - Demosthenes (page 35)

"Nothing is more common than for men to pass from the abuse of a good thing to the disuse of it." - Hamilton (page 42)

"As Hamilton learned in doing his research for the report [to congress], few American farmers knew whether farming was more or less profitable than other enterprises, for almost none kept any records. The lack of information did not, however, prevent them from having opinions." McDonald (page 233)

Jefferson had, "a womanish attachment to France and a womanish resentment of Great Britain." - Hamilton on Jefferson (page 265)

"Having contributed to place those of the Nation on a good footing, I go to take a little care of my own; which need my care not a little." - Hamilton on his resignation (page 303)

"Real firmness is good for everything - Strut is good for nothing." - Hamilton (page 334)

This book is fairly easy to read as compared to other books on Hamilton. Some of the philosophical and economical ideas will be hard to fathom for those of us that are not experts. The author tries to explain these doctrines without dragging down the pace of the book.It would seem he succeeds fairly well.

I am using this book as a guide to Hamilton, his contemporaries and times. I don't think I'll find a more comprehensive view without major bias unless I were able to talk with the actual men. However, we all know the degree of bias that would be involved there...

I am getting to know Alexander Hamilton and I am awed by his life and talents. I am also relearning history I had forgotten or learning history I was never exposed to within this book. Anyone interested in Hamilton, his times or fellow founding fathers, must read this. It isn't a fast read, but anything worth reading will never be.It will allow the reader to see that despite the faults of the founding fathers and their shaky start, we wound up with a viable, stable government that was able to attain world stature. The book helps to illustrate that we would do well to learn from their mistakes as well as their good.

Hamilton would expect no less of us.

I loved this series. I really did. It's going to go down in my lists as one of the best Space Opera series I've read (comparisons of Peter Hamilton to Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov are very much deserved, in my opinion). This series is very intricate, with lots and lots of memorable characters and locations, large interstellar mysteries, alien races (both malevolent and benign), and plenty of action and warfare.

The thing I think I enjoyed most about this series was the characters that you learn so much about, and about whom you really learn to care by the end of the story. Also, the horror present in parts of this story is very much akin to what you'd read in stories by HP Lovecraft or Brian Lumley (witness what happens to Dariat and his companions and you'll get a taste of what true hopelessness and desperation feel like).

This series is so good, there isn't enough space here to talk about all the things I like about it. It's truly epic in scope, and comes to a very satisfactory conclusion. I especially enjoyed watching Quinn Dexter finally get what was coming to him.

My only reason for removing one star from this final book is due to the quick ending to the book. Humanity is truly at a point of final desperation, and it really appears that nothing is going to be able to stop the dead from taking over the universe. The solution to this dilemma comes literally in the last 20 pages of the book. It's the result of a quest that Joshua and his crew have been on for a long time, even getting involved in the civil war of a newly-discovered alien race in the process. Joshua is seeking an alien artifact with 'God power', and is hoping that this artifact can help them. However, when Joshua finds this artifact, rather than finding a solution that can help them solve their own problem, the artifact literally solves the problem for all of humanity in the matter of just a few pages. After all the work (mostly enjoyable) I had gone through reading all 6 of these books, it was a bit of a letdown to have things solved so completely and so quickly by an alien entity with all the answers.

But this is a minor criticism. Peter Hamilton has done something that not many authors even attempt, and even fewer ever do successfully. He's created a very detailed and interesting universe with lots of memorable characters and settings that's a lot of overall fun to read. If the ending is a bit hurried, it's at worst only a minor disappointment that's definitely overshadowed by the scope and greatness of this series.

I have always been a fan of epics such as the Dark Tower by Stephen King and Clive Barker's Imajica and usually always judge the epic on how the author finishes such a grand undertaking. Separted from the other five books in this series Faith is very well written with the awesome imagination fans expect from Mr. Hamilton. I usually judge a novel by asking myself "how in the world did they think this up?" If I can't answer that question then the author is tremendous indeed. The only reason I can't give this book a full five stars is my impression that it was concluded too fast. With an epic this complex I am sure Mr. Hamilton could have spared 200 more pages of indepthness. However, this could be an abridged version with an unedited edition to come! This is only my hope due to the fact that I love original and unedited editions, the Stand being my favorite example. This is the only fault I can give to this final installation. The ending, without spoiling it for others, was fantastic. I am greatly looking forward to The Confederation Handbook next December as a continuation of Mr. Hamilton's unique imagination.

It's going to be hard talking about this without revealing plot points but I'm going to do my best. If you're reading this you're either reading because you want to see if someone agreed with your opinion or you're curious about the series and want to see if it's worth it. The former folks I can't do anything about but to the latter I can definitely say it's worth the trip. The last book in the series mostly wraps up the myriad of major plots, granted they converge in a way never thought possible but at the same time it was fairly exciting how they all suddenly merged. The action is as rapid as ever and Hamilton deftly keeps things moving to the point where you're literally flipping through pages because the pace is just that rapid. The characters are . . . well, toward the end they start falling into the traps of their own stereotypes, Quinn Dexter was never the most three dimensional of people but he gets tiresomely predictable as the book winds to a close, while even the good characters tend to start wallowing in their own goodness. Still it's a classic good versus evil fight with some wacky philosophy thrown in and generally that requires its character to be living embodiments of goodness or vile evil, Hamilton normally handles it well but sometimes you just want to roll your eyes. The ending isn't as much abrupt as really "deux es machina" but if you can figure out a way to wrap all that up without writing an entirely new book, I'd like to see folks try. It wasn't the perfect ending that I was hoping for but at the same time it didn't ruin the book for me like others are claiming. All in all the entire series is a very satisfying experience, it's sort of sad to finish it since if you've been following this since the beginning it's been nearly three years and over three thousand pages, this people good or bad start to become sort of like part of your family. Hamilton should be praised for making one of the best future histories to come along for a long time, it's detailed and more importantly it's a place (well before that whole possession thing) that I wouldn't mind living in, full of action and adventure and political intrigue, he could theoretically mine the setting for stories for years. I don't think since Larry Niven's Known Space series have we seen that. Is the series perfect? No, it's not, but there isn't any single problem that I could see that made the books less worthy or anything that made want to stop reading. There was something for everyone here and what we got was one of the greatest SF epics of the last ten or so years that raised a bunch of interesting concepts (and distilled a bunch more, Hamilton wasn't utterly original but it's what you do with the concepts that counts), was vastly entertaining and entirely readable (except when you skip a few years in between reading, don't make that mistake) and it's a series who's reputation will only grow in the years to come.

"Warning . . . Breaking a heart is one thing -- breaking the law is another." In the spirit of fun, this book does describe all sorts of illegal activities that you should not indulge in (being an ax murderer, escaping restaurants without paying, and making whoopee in an airplane lavatory). But you will probably enjoy the fantasy of escaping from these circumstances while reading the book!

The book's key point is that you will "find out how to survive dozens of physically and emotionally threatening situations in bars, restaurants, bedrooms, or airplane lavatories." This is important because "human nature is much less predictable than Mother Nature."

Like the other two worst-case survival handbooks, this one comes with many helpful illustrations to help you follow the advice.

Here are some of my favorite sections: How to determine the gender of your date (without removing any clothing); how to tell if you date is married; what to do if you run into an obsessive ex on a date; how to fake an intense sexual experience; how to find out the name of the person you are in bed with when you've forgotten their name; how to stop a wedding of someone you want to marry; a section of useful excuses; pick up lines not to use; and fending off unwanted admirers in a bar (which includes many ways to spill drinks on them).

More than the other two handbooks, this book is filled with advice that you may actually want to use some day (like how to stop someone from snoring, getting rid of excess gas, dealing with a declined credit card when you have no cash with you, and breaking up with someone in a considerate way).

I only found one area where I thought the advice was wrong. There's a section on how to tell if another person is a con artist. There is advice drawn from neuro-linguistic programming that suggests that people who look to the left are lying. Actually, in most right handed people, looking left or up to the left usually means that they are remembering a visual image, or something that they have heard. If a right handed person looks right or up to the right, there is some imaginative activity going on . . . not necessarily a lie. The person may not have an experience in this area. Reverse these directions for most left-handed people. For ambidextrous people, good luck!

I think that this book is not only valuable for most people who are dating, it would also make a wonderful gift for roommates to give to each other (when of an appropriate age to appreciate the references to sexual situations as well-meant humor).

For guys, if the advice doesn't work out, you will also find out how to handle black eyes, meeting with police officers, and getting out on bail!

Appreciate the potential humor of every situation . . . even on bad dates!!

This is my favorite "Worst-Case" book and probably the most practical. I think it will make a great gift for the holidays. It makes for interesting reading and is a conversational piece. If you wanted to, I'm sure that you could read the whole book in a couple of hours.

Some of the advice is very practical, helpful and important for serious dating like: How to Determine If Your Date is Married, How to Deal with Bad Breath, How to Deal with a Drunken Date, How to Survive If You Are Stopped by the Police, and How to Survive Snoring.

Others are mostly amusing (especially the diagrams!) like: How to Determine the Gender of Your Date, How to Escape From a Bad Date, How to Spot a Fake (Boob job and hair pieces), How to Fend Off Competition For Your Date, and How to Remove Difficult Clothing...and of course the faking of the Big "O".

Some things that are in the book may not be such a good idea in the first place like How to Have an Affair and Not Get Caught. Maybe you can avoid the whole problem by not having an affair, right?

And the bit about How to Determine if Your Date is a Con-Artist...the entire thing about the eye patterns is such a bunch of neuro-baloney. Trust your intuition and if he seems kind of weird then he probably is.

All in all this is a fun read, a great gift, a practical guide to a few situations that may apply to you or one of your friends, and if you live on the dating "edge", this probably can save your behind....at least temporarily until you wise up.

Like a professional baseball player, this book helps an enlightened woman anticipate rare situations so that she can respond with action instead of react in panic. And for this, we can be thankful that this book exists.

In today's pop culture society, I'm sure this is destined to be a National Best-Seller.

If you loved "Worst Case Scenario and Worst Case Scenario travel, you will absolutely love the latest version on dating and sex. If you didn't catch them, this is a great place to start. Once again, the authors have taken a light-hearted approach to serious situations and offered up some advice on how to get out of them.

While most of us would hate to find ourselves in the situations in the three books, I find Dating and Sex to be the most useful. It covers a wide range of topics, like how to deal with bad dates, all the way to how to tell if your date is an axe murderer (something we all need to know). For the sometime downright hilarious to the lighter-hearted side of dating, this is a great book to own.

How to Dump a Guy is a fast read which will cause uncontrollable laughter. Don't make the same mistake I did. To avoid embarrassment, do not read this book in a public place such as in an airplane.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Mine is that Valium should be prescribed to anyone who is as negative about this book and takes it is as seriously as does the author of the below review.

Required reading for any woman in doubt about her relationships and for any man interested in women.

A witty parody of The Rules and other "how to" books, Fillion and Ladowsky have provided women with a highly intelligent, entertaining and useful instruction in the strategy of dating and dumping guys. Women should find this book comical and empowering. It is shockingly candid and successful in clarifying and articulating aspects of dating which are rarely discussed. For men, this book is "a walk through the women's locker room". It will confirm your worst fears about the opposite sex and how your girlfriend describes you to other women.

A must read for all women of the '90s.

This is a great book which takes a realistic approach to relationships. It not only gently guides you to the end of the relationship, recognizing that the end happens, but reflects the good and bad. Along the pathway to the end, you are not required to change your inner being (ala Gray et al), just to get out...without harm to yourself...what we all want. The use of humor in this book is great. We have all felt the things these women describe, just have had no avenue to verbalize it.