This book is an excellent view into the highlights of M. Parkes work. One could sit for hours gazing at the paintings that are in this book. Also a very inexpensive way to preview prints I might buy in the future.

A beautiful book, one that you can keep as a reference on on the coffee table. Beautful, beautful book

This is a magnificent book. The large illustrations and text that accompany them are beautiful to look at and insightful. We all interpret his work in our own way, it's nice to see how the artist himself interprets his work. I have several of his books and like them all, but this is my favorite.

In my time of need, this book opened my eyes to what society really thinks of divorced and single dads. I knew, after reading this book, that it wasn't anything I was or wasn't doing; it was simply the way the system works. I thank these two wonderful authors for their time and effort in researching and writing a book that I will never give away. Thank you so much for confirming that I am the good father I knew I was.

For the millions of fathers who have experienced the intimacy of involved fatherhood, and its subsequent loss through divorce, this book will give them the validation they can find in few other places. Throwaway Dads stridently touches a nerve that neither Blankenhorn (Fatherless America) nor Popenoe (Life Without Father) have fully explored. Expanding on Sanford Braver (Divorced Dads), Throwaway Dads takes us another step closer to understanding the degree to which the contemporary myth of the unfeeling, macho, uninvolved, "deadbeat", if not "dangerous" dad belies the frequent, tragic-reality of the post-divorce, disenfranchised, "visiting father."

And, notably, it courageously exposes the social engineering which decimated the families caught up in the wake of the "Great Society" - and the genesis of Braver's "driven-away" dads.

In this case, you can tell a book by its cover.

At last, a book on fathers that shows insight and compassion on the challenges facing fathers. Provides a good historical perspective. Good antidote to radical feminism.

THE ARCHITECT'S BROTHER is one of the most beautiful monographs of photography to be released in years. These 'constructions' created by the husband/wife team under the name of Robert ParkeHarrison meld painting, sculpture, stage props, photo-manipulation, collages of natural debris, and megatons of inspired genius to create staged photomontages that are at times amusing, melancholic, wistful, and spiritualy uplifting. Speaking to the earth through a huge megaphone made of bark, anchoring clouds, flying suspended by lassoed birds - let your imagination take you there. The quality of the book is up to the luxurious standard of format of Twin Palms Press. There is an added three brief pages of comment in the form a quotaton by W.S. Merwin entitled 'Unchopping a Tree' which is what this entire collection is about - man's attempt to mimic nature....and the sweet sadness of the knowledge that he can't.

Robert ParkeHarrison is an outstanding photographer, who creates disturbing images from photographs using sculpture, painting and aspects of theater to produce a surreal image. He appears in every photograph, acting as explorer, victim and conjurer performing actions that evoke a sense of ritual and metaphor, and frequently leave the viewer dazzled.

His is a magical world, lightning strikes, huge flowers explode and clouds and dark holes spin across the horizon. This is a mystical world that recalls to me the world of the major arcana of the Tarot. The figure vacillates between Mage, Fool and Hierophant. Who is the Architect, I wonder. Is his brother an assistant or an opponent? Many of the images are ambivalent, touching on both darkness and light, making a clear decision impossible. The figure seems melancholy, engaged in strange almost hopeless acts. But he persists, carrying on a quest intended to heal or repair a desolate world.

Despite a great difference in subject matter, these images remind me a great deal of Joel Peter Witkin, who is another Twin Palms photographer. Witkin's images also evoke a sense of myth and legend and have many readings. Both photographers manipulate their images extensively (with their wives as co-conspirators as well). And both have wonderful imaginations that seem to flourish against the somewhat humdrum backdrop of today's world.

A slipcased, signed edition exists, but is becoming quite rare. This edition and the trade edition are beautifully produced by Twin Palms, who manage to capture the real spirit of this work. By all means buy the "The Architect's Brother" if you are interested in non-traditional photography. You won't be disappointed.

Buy this book for your local library. Parke Harrison, a husband and wife team create spellbinding photographs that take days to prepare. Inspired by an individual spiritual drive the photographs depict characters portrayed by Robert that interact with the earth, usually through some fantastic contraption like a cloud machine.

The effect is other worldly and haunting. The effects created photographically are enhanced by handpainting over the photos. Originally working with beeswax and pigments, travelling and the wear induced led to exploration of acrylic mediums. This is a dream for mixed media minded people.

Mr. Parkes provides us with a comprehensive view that does true justice to 'mouths that read' and 'ears that speak' without losing sight of the import of 'the author.' Out of all of the 'Nietzsche's' out there, this is one, seeming following in Lampert's footsteps, that truly brings Nietzsche's corps/e to life. A true find and a passionate, entertaining read for anyone trying to hear aright. Its density and attention to detail brings out the complexity of many of 'Nietzsche's' themes while weaving the many interconnected branches together around the complicated issue of 'composing the soul'. The brilliance of the approach, however, was that Parks allowed 'Nietzsche' to speak and, in my view, did not reduce 'Nietzsche' into a 'psychologist' but rather allowed 'Nietzsche' to be. Nor did he reduce the 'composition of the soul' into crass individualism best representing the 'last man.' A true example of how books should be composed, and out of the plethora of books on Nietzsche I have scanned over the years this may be the best I have read. A book that engages both the new and old traveler embarking on the dangerous sea of "Nietzsche".

Parkes provides a Nietzsche of radical comprehensiveness: an unriddler of the human soul that reaches the entire scope and depth of our protean multiplicity. Nietzsche is a psychologist that performs exploratory surgery upon the entire economy, the whole complexity and manifoldness of the drives, wills, energies, and personalities that make us who we are, and who we are perpetually becoming. A healer, magician, chemist, artist, farmer, midwife, philosopher and composer of wholeness: a cascade of perspectives and masks to explore the entire scope and range of personality and will. A must read and genuine delight that intoxicates with its profundity of metaphor, as well as deeply insightful and probing with its varieties of lenses.

It goes after just about every bit of psychological theory there is to be found in Nietzsche -- in the thoughts of Nietzsche the young student, in the psychological ideas from the writings of those who inspired him, in the ideas he advanced as his own psychological theories, in the images and metaphors of his texts. Parkes has put himself on the map as a Nietzsche scholar and commentator of the first rank. His is the only recent work I am aware of, besides my own earlier efforts in a book on NIETZSCHE AND PSYCHOANALYSIS, whose approach to Nietzsche is based on the principles of archetypal psychology. This approach is acknowledged in the opening reference to James Hillman, dean of archetypal psychology. Even if thereafter it is no longer explicitly mentioned, it remains actively present in every chapter. This is less a book about Nietzsche the person -- his feelings and thoughts and behaviors and other strictly personal idiosyncrasies -- than about the images and metaphors that shape and animate Nietzschean thought. We owe Mr.Parkes a debt of gratitude for the enormously rich way he has worked the archetypal material that goes by the personified name of "Nietzsche". Daniel Chapelle

This is not son of Fancies and Goodnight
although the bracing mix of empathy ansd sarcasm is very like
imsgine drinking champagne and getting bubbles up your nose
nose candy, yes but not the kind that will kill you...should you shuffle off this coil while readin this marvelous collection, the coroner's verdict will be
"died laughing.
Parke Godwin indeed
"Son of Beaumont and Fletcheris more like.
Look, Friend, don't die laughing.stay around for the next collection from Mr. Godwin

There must be another collection as in theremust be a pony.

The Fire When It Comes is available in a collection of short stories at Dreams Unlimited and the collection is simply the best I've ever read! Priceless if you're willing to try an ebook to own this classic.

A collection of short stories, added to the Novella which bears the same name as the book. The author has one of the best grasps of dialouge I have ever seen. If you are a fan of Science Fiction for Science Fictions sake, don't bother having them track this down. But if you believe that Science Fiction/Fantasy is a framework where real human storys can be painted, this book is for you. The selection "Influencing the Hell Out of Time and Theresa Golowitz" is quite simply one of the best stories I've ever read

I first read this book and it's prequeal (Waiting for the Galactic Bus) about ten years ago. Since then, I've read it three more times, getting something new each time. The last time I read it, I actually took notes on some of the historical characters - especially the two very important incognito figures. This story has many levels it can be enjoyed on, the most obvious being a comical farce; moving deeper there's a lot of serious philosophy here and a scathing examination of the American ideals of Freedom vs. America's religious revisionists determined to make us a 'Christian Nation'. All in all, an excellent read!

A whirlwind tour of heaven and hell, or Topside and Below Stairs, as it's referred to in the book. When God/TheDevil/An Alien is put on trial, the author managed to humorously skewer the religous right, the hippies, yuppies, the middle class, and every major religious character out there. Fun stuff.

REVIEW OF "THE SNAKE OIL WARS"

Author: PARKE GODWIN, 1989

Submitted by Sandy Buckingham, Daytona Beach, Florida (1998)

Though THE SNAKE OIL WARS was written almost 10 years ago, it is most apropos to this age of burgeoning religiosity in American politics, bombings and killings by Christian fanatics and more and more breaches in laws and principles that would protect our rights to privacy and freedom of choice. SNAKE OIL WARS astounds by being a satire on America's Puritanical decade of the 90's, written prior to the fact. Is this prophecy or what?

No, this is hardly prophecy, for the author takes us on a whirlwind tour of the history of religious fanaticism, and especially the historical foundations of what we now call the "Christian Right" movement. He then shows the logical conclusion of the movement: a fascist theocracy in which science, technology and medicine is subject to "snake oil salesmen" and in which the poor and those less fortunate than ourselves are scorned just because they do not seem to show the "visible signs of God's favor".

This is "must" reading for anyone who wants to know the basic principles behind why Americans increasingly are losing their privacy rights, why freedom of choice is being made to sound like a dirty word, and what the real agenda of the "Christian Right" is.

It is also "must" reading for anyone in the "Christian Right" movement who would like to know the foundation and logical outcome of the movement. Do we really want to live in a country in which our houses and lives are exposed to an "inerrant writ", where the right to privacy is extinguished, and "legal judgment (is made) on the most personal matters"?

In conclusion, I can only quote the erudite author's dedication of the book:

"To those lucid and courageous minds who gave you the Inquisition, the Salem witch trials, Falwell, Robertson and the God-inspired Rule of the Righteous. To those intrepid souls who fight with unflagging zeal to remove from libraries dangerous books they have not read and from theaters those spiritually toxic films they have not seen, believing that thought is a controlled substance and secular thinking hazardous to mental health."

This book is about a bus driven by a man named Mack. He was driving children around and people on the street where yelling at Mack. They were telling him to watch out and Mack did. What was down there? It was a dog that kept barking at everyone. Mack tried to catch it but just kept barking. People on the street were getting mad at the dog and were looking for the owner. A man was in the bakery shop asking if they seen something for him. Read the book to find out if he found it.
I liked the book because of the surprise ending and the pictures. Katie V.

Waiting for the Galactic Bus and its sequel, The Snake Oil Wars (to which I give a rating of 10), are fabulous commentary on zealotry and fanaticism. Mr. Godwin is a wonderful writer and very humourous. His dedication for The Snake Oil Wars says it best: "To those lucid and courageous minds who gave us the Inquisition, the Salem witch trials, Falwell, Robertson and the God-inspired Rule of the Rightous. To those intrepid souls who fight with unflagging zeal to remove from libraries dangerous books they have not read and from theaters those spiritually toxic films they have not seen, believing that thought is a controlled substance and secular thinking hazardous to mental health." Such wise and wonderful words! Two of my all time favorite books.

I loved it. It was such a new look at classic evolution that I couldnt help but love it. The descriptions of Heavon and Hell, or Topside and Below Stairs, were so funny and imaginative that I fell instantly in love with the places. While I was reading it I tryed, on numerous ocassions, to describe the book to my friends and teachers who rewarded my efforts to enlighten with very strange looks. In fact the only person who didnt give me a very strange look was my best friend who instantly wanted to read it. We both enjoyed it alot and think others will too.

Harry Bosworth lives his life forward to his senior years, when a father-to-son mutant gene suddenly causes Harry to begin growing physically younger, year by year. During his first trip through life he becomes a successful hardware store owner in a "going nowhere" little town. His life long ambition, to become a physician, is not shared by his overbearing, selfish wife. Her nagging for a better standard of living leaves him with unmet goals and a humdrum life.

About the time his wife dies, Harry and his dentist realize that these unheard-of changes are really occurring. Trying to avoid becoming a life-time specimen for various life sciences specialists, he decides he must tell no one, except his dentist, about this phenomenon. The story relates the heart-warming problems and solutions found by the age-regressing Harry, while both his friends and the rest of the whole world grow older. 

Hauntingly true to life, "THE BOSWORTH GENE" will leave you with many happy thoughts to ponder. You will like the ending too. What an immaginative story!

This book was excellent and made me think of what it would really be like to be young again. There are so many pitfalls I never thought about if I was to ever be young again and Parke Sellard made some very interesting points painfully clear in a very touching and well written book about being given another chance at life. Make the most of what you got because the second time around can be a nightmare in sweet disguise. I look forward to more of Parke Sellard's books.

PARKE SELLARD HAS GIVEN A SENSITIVE INSIGHTFUL ACCOUNT OF HOW A MAN DEALS WITH THE PHENOMENON THAT LIFE DEALS HIM. THIS IS A VERY GOOD BOOK AND HAS MYSTERY, SUSPENSE AND LOVE. IT KEPT THIS READER ENTHRALLED ALL THE WAY TO THE END. BONNIE HIGHT

More historical fiction than fantasy, you will not find any magic swords or sorcery in this gritty and realistic story of Guenevere and Britian after the death of Arthur. When the story begins, Guenevere is already middle aged, and Britian is on the brink of chaos. As the story progresses we learn of the maturing of Guenevere as a person and as a queen.

The novel starts off fast and furious with battles and betrayals. Then it settles down into a serious character study as it builds towards a strong and satisfying climax. Sometimes slow, but always interesting, this was worthwhile reading.

Traditional versions of the Arthur myth focus mainly on the men. Other versions like Mists of Avalon, which I enjoy immensely, focus women characters and not much, really, on the weepy, very Christian Guinevere.

Beloved Exile is a smashing alternate view of the possibilities, given the times. Guinevere in this version is not construed as a saint, a hystrionic weeper, nor is she totally lovable, but is very human. She is a strong, unforgettable character.

Highly recommended!

This is my favorite depiction of Guinevere. Godwin portrays her as a powerful woman whose strengths (as is often the case) are also her weaknesses--and her undoing. Godwin's Guinevere is frequently hard to sympathize with, but she isn't hard to understand. I'm impressed with how dramatically (but believably) her character changes and grows between Firelord and this book. Note: Read this book carefully, and you'll notice that a character from Firelord, so minor that she had neither name or dialogue, is crucial to the events and attitudes in Beloved Exile.

I was very pleased when I received the soft cover version of GLADIATOR. It is very well written with wonderful pictures that will remind you of how much you enjoyed the film. When you see the film it moves so swiftly that you don't have time to ask, "How'd they do that?" The historical facts are made clear in the book. Although there were liberties taken with those events, the film has the "feel" of the times. Ridley Scott, manages to let you in on secrets that made this movie so incredibly popular. It is a book you will wish to return to often, before and after seeing the film again. The star, Russell Crowe, a dynamite actor, tells how he learned the dangerous swordplay, that had to carefully choreographed so that no one was injured. Mr. Crowe had the magnetism necessary to make Maximus a great hero, and at the end you wish there could be more of the book, and more of the film. It's a beautifully put together book with lots of "inside" information. You will add this to your film library with pride.

This companion book to the movie will appeal to any fan of Gladiator, providing over 200 color photos and drawings and detailing the behind-the-scenes production secrets of one of the finest films of the year. Interviews reveal how the story was written and the movie cast and filmed, while color illustrations and photos liberally embellish every page.

Director Ridley Scott's epic, Gladiator, is my favorite film of the year 2000. It reminded me of the way movies in old Hollywood were made. I can remember watching films like Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments and Lawrence Of Arabia on television with my Mom, and being wowed by the spectacle of it all. Gladiator brought back that same kind of feeling for me.

The story behind The Making Of Gladiator is almost as epic as the film itself. The book is divided into 2 main sections. The first, talks about what it took to get the film to the big screen, while the second discusses the filming and post production. Scott provides a well written introduction, while Co-Executive Producer Walter Parkes pens a foreward. The main text of the book was written by Sharon Black. Thankfully, the text is very readable, and the full color photography is some of the best I have seen in a book like this. The usual cast and crew interviews are present of course. But the photos really tend to put the book over the top for me. Script excerpts, original storyboards, and a complete credit listing are also included.

Even if you already own the film, this book still makes a fine companion to it. This is a must if you like the film as much as I do. The book has 160 pages and is highly recomended