Subs Under Ice is well told and very accurate. Don't expect a "Clancy" type of book, however. The author is a retired military and writes in a succinct military fashion. The story of the skill and bravery of these men is long overdue in telling. My uncle served under John Nicholson aboard Sargo on its journey to the pole so I have been especially eager to read about this chapter of submarine history. I can heartily recomemd this book.

SEEING IS BELIEVING
When Alexandra Prescott's innocent sketch made her and her son targets for murder, the independent-minded widow needed someone to depend on. The most unlikely candidate? Luke Quinlan, new neighbor, pin-striped lawyer - and definite preference of her adolescent son, badly in need of a father...

Luke Quinlan had been attracted to Alexandra Prescott since he first laid eyes on her, but he knew that with his reassuring horn-rims and conservative suits, he was hardly her type. Still, he found it hard to stay away from her and her son - and not just because they needed protection. The closer he got to Alexandra, the more he realized she wasn't the only one in danger...

This is Marion Zimmer Bradley's third anthology of sword and sorcery fiction devoted to stories where women are the protagonists. They come in many forms, warriors, thieves, mages, healers, wise-women, adventurers and wanderers. MZB sticks to her guns throughout-these are not romances, nor are they stories where women are the sidekicks, or simply women to be overcome by a more powerful male. Instead, this anthology holds a wide range of stories, and an infinitely wide range of heroines. Since the first Sword and Sorceress anthology, these stories became increasingly popular, so that MZB had received rampant submissions for this third anthology from hopeful writers. Most of her intro delves into her editing methods, and what she expects from a story. Readers get to see a bit of the process behind selection, as well as MZB's sharp and humorous personality that I personally found delightful.

MZB once more serves up a range of voices; from familiar returning favorites, to brand new first sales. Probably one of the most noteworthy new authors, in my opinion, is Mercedes Lackey. "Sword Sworn" is, I believe, Misty's debut as a published author, and is certainly the first introduction to her unforgettable mercenary heroines, Tarma and Kethry who are the protagonists of Lackey's later novels; OATHBOUND and OATHBREAKERS. Lackey has gone on to quite a career since then, but even this first short story showcases her talents as a writer. As to returning favorites, MZB has included an interesting tale of a dragon and a young nature-wizard "Dragon Amber" by Deborah Wheeler (noteworthy, in part because Bradley tends to dislike any sort of 'cliché' dragon story), "Valley of Shadow" by Jennifer Roberson, "Journeytime" by Dana Kramer-Rolls, "Marwe's Forest" by Charles Saunders, and "The Mist on the Moor" by Diana L. Paxson.

"Journeytime" by Dana Kramer-Rolls, "The River of Tears" by Anodea Judith, and "Sword Sworn" by Mercedes Lackey are more serious ventures, dealing with the transformation of character and the journey, both physical and spiritual, these characters make. Unlike her first two anthologies, number three has a greater number of serious stories, the balance of humor is not as prevalent, still there are one or two that lighten the mood. "Orpheus" by Mary Frances Zambreno is about an unusual pair of women adventurers sent to retrieve a soul from the underworld, and "Bargains" by Elizabeth Moon where the bargains in question, may be no bargain at all.

Among my favorites is "A Tale From Hendry's Mill" by Melisa Carpenter, an interesting take on the 'rape and revenge' theme, and one very likable heroine. "More's the Pity" by L. D. Woeltjen is a haunting tale that works its spell very effectively in a few short pages. As mentioned above, "Sword Sworn" by Mercedes Lackey is her introduction to two female mercenaries, and a powerful story of both sword and sorcery-and vengeance. Perhaps the most intriguing story is Jennifer Roberson's "Valley of the Shadow". It's one you'll just have to read.

All of the stories in this anthology are strongly written and well selected, although there are quite a few longer, more serious pieces than in the last two anthologies. I still consider this collection worth five stars, but could have wished for one or two shorter humorous pieces interspersed in the mix. For any reader who enjoys reading stories about women in fantasy, this is definitely a good place to find them! If you have read this anthology and have enjoyed it, I highly recommend finding the first two anthologies-they're just as well written!

Happy reading! ^_^ --shanshad

The story seems simple on the surface, but reading just the text is like scratching the surface! Every incredible illustration is surrounded by a challenging riddle. I've yet to figure out the entire puzzle, but if you do you can win a silver Tasmanian tiger, (the gold one has been claimed already.) I highly recommend it!

This book really got me the knowledge that I needed about my family since I am a descendant of Sam and Jane Livington. It was a part of me that I never knew was missing. Each year in August, there is a family reunion of the Livingstons and Howse's, held at Fort Victoria, just south of present day Smokey Lake, Alberta. I went last year and got the chance to meet more of my unknown relatives. Since, I have really gotten into my family genealogy and have found out alot of my family past that dates back to the early 1700 when the family came from England to Canada.

Little Brother is a young Tennessee Cherokee who is frustrated he has not performed a brave deed to earn his permanent name. Life just gets worse as he tries to be brave, do any feat which would earn a "good" name. Readers, mainly children, learn about Cherokee life in fascinatng detail. Cherokees used to use turkey feathers as towels, sopapilla plants for soap, enjoyed games we play today such as lacrosse. Children learn about foods and their preparation, how families back then were like our families today, and aspects of Cherokee culture and religion and their deep respect for the Earth. As a teacher, I use Tenase Brave as a thematic base for about a month's teaching in 3rd grade -- tieing in math, science, language, and Native American studies. Culmination of the unit is on or near Thanksgiving. The author is elderly, but lives nearby in Smyrna, Tennessee, and is extremely sharp and lively. She often visits schools who are fortunate enough to find and use her book. Children love to be read to, and this book is written in a format that lends itself of storytelling. It has humor, high adventure and is a fascinatingly well written little book. I highly recommend it.

Weisel delved deep into the complex nature of humans and the human attempt to deal with society's constantly changing moral/ethical guides. I know I will be thinking about this book for a long time to come. Although the topic can be depressing, Weisel finds the beauty in the way his characters deal with the problems in front of them.

Miss Shoard's seminal 1979 work exposes the corruption that courses through the veins of Britain's Rights of Way system. Crucial reading for anyone who wants to know the truth. Fantastic and brave. Buy.

A friend lent me her book to read when I got my new horse. I couldn't wait to order my own copy! This is a must have for any horse lover. At our stable we are very much into the care of our horses. This book is an easy to read guide to using acupressure massage to keep the horse happy and healthy in body and spirit. It also addresses specific treatments for ailments including lameness and colic. The author tells the story of how her own mare was saved from the pain and stress caused by a trailing accident. In fact, her mare Kate is freguently used as a model to illustrate the massage technigues and the meridans of the horse's body. I found the many photos and illustrations a great visual guide in practicing these techniques on my own horse. My horse and I highly recommend this book!

I am not writing this review from the perspective of a 22 year old college student. I am writing this from the perspective of the 12 year old I was when I first came across "Tracy Harmon: Love Specialist" in my middle school library during lunch. The twelve year old me read the entire book in one sitting, and promptly stole the libraries' copy , which I still have to this day. (The theft was wildly out of character for this Miss Goodie Two-Shoes, as I never even take pencils from work, and I'm still planning to mail the book back to my old school someday. Really.)
The cover of my (or King Middle School's) copy says it all: A pretty brunette in a Red Sweater sits at a typewriter while a handsome , clean cut guy watches her with interest. Right away we know we're in for goofy romance.
The story concerns a formally chubby teenager who has lost weight responsibly after trying many crash diets and quick fix cures (The saga of Tracy's weight loss is told in the book's prequel, "The Girl Within". I haven't read it.). Now, at a healthy weight with the proper self-confidence, Tracy is beautiful and wildly popular. All the guys at her school would kill to go out with her, and she can have any one she wants, except Brent Haywood. He's different. New at the school, Brent is aloof to the point of rudeness, and shows a particular dislike for Tracy, for reasons she cannot understand. On the other hand, as one chracter puts it , "he, uh, stares at you a lot" and is forever showing up in Tracy's vicinity, to her annoyance. Thus we begin a decidedly cheesy romance, full of misunderstandings, dark secret pasts (G-Rated of course) and plenty of fun. I adored this book as a young girl; I read it until I had entire sections memorized. If you can get a copy, it will make a great gift for the right day-dreaming girl. As for me, you can be sure when I have kids they will be reading it too. And then I really do have to give it back to the library.