Wind it till it breaks, and back off one, eh Bill? : )
Any thoughts on Project Helios (You and Bob Boucher did Sunrise II)?
Last Gasps...Exam is over.

I'd rate it pretty high, as I wrote it :-) It is book 2 in a three-book series on how to get started in building model aircraft ( rubber-powered ) The original Sky Bunny disappeared at 13 minutes + at Shafter Airport...

The first book is called The Peck ROG and the Third The Flying Aces Moth. They have been out of print for some time. You have made a real find here! I'd get one...and keep your eyes open for the other two.

If you like model aircraft, this one is priceless.

I don't get anything out of it, by the way!

Bill Warner

This is a really well-written book! The author does a nice job of balancing his interest in the lives of four specific people with the big picture. With a very big picture! I especially liked the equal attention paid to the stories of white America and black America, not to mention everything in between or outside of these. And the section on Jean Toomer is so very sad and very moving.

This is an exceptional addition to the body of work that explores the idea of race as a social and ideological construct in American history. In four tightly argued essays, Guterl deftly analyzes the contributions (and contradictions) of Madison Grant, W.E.B. Dubois, Jean Toomer, and Daniel Calahan as a viable window to the problems inherent in the color line. This work is a welcome (and highly sophisticated) addition to the field of whiteness studies (joining such works as Matthew Frye Jacobson's *Whiteness of a Different Color*, George Lipsitz's *Possessive Investment in Whiteness* and of course, David Roediger's *Wages of Whiteness*) as well as the growing body of work on scientific racism (one thinks of Lee Baker's work, *From Savage to Negro*) and race biography (following in the footsteps of his mentor David Levering Lewis). This book makes a number of promises and certailny delivers the goods. It is a wonderfully written book that weaves personal and historical information in a seamless study. I highly recommend it!!!!

Hugo Pratt (1927-1995) attended the Venice Academy of Fine Arts in the late-40's. His career in comics began immediately after graduation, however in 1950 he emigrated to Argentina where he created a number of comic strips including popular cowboy hero Sgt. Kirk. In the '60's after a brief period in London he moved to Milan.

Interest in westerns began to ebb in the '60's and in 1967 Pratt introduced the sea captain Corto Maltese in "Una Ballata del Mare Salato". "The Ballad of the Salt Sea" was about two teenage castaways who fall into the hands of pirates and mercenaries in Melanesia in the early years of WWI. Captain Maltese appears as a mysterious rogue who soon comes to dominate the adventure. The classic Corto traits develop in this story. He is a romantic, with a macho code of honour. His laconic 'cool' disguises an identification with the underdog. Supporting characters are well-developed and villians are motivated by tragic compulsions - with the possible exception of the maniacal Rasputin! Although 'good' triumphs in the end it is with great loss and there is a pervading sense of mystery and tragedy.

In 1970 Pratt started a series of Corto Maltese adventures for the French comic magazine "Pif-Gadget": these were later republished as 11 collections, some of which are not available in English (and European versions are slightly different.) There are: "The Brazilian Eagle" (originally titled 'Tango', 1987), in which Corto meets the mysterious Gold Mouth during Latin American intrigues; "Banana Conga" ('Sous la Signe du Capricorne'), in which further intrigues take him from South America into the Caribbean; there the adventures continue in "Voodoo for the President"('Corto toujours un peu plus loin', 1975); "Corto Maltese in Africa" ('Les Ethiopiques', 1973) finds him in the midst of the struggles of the colonial powers in Africa during WWI; "Corto Maltese - the early Years" ('La Juenesse', 1981) is mostly concerned with the early career of crazy 'Captain' Rasputin; 'Corto Maltese et la Maison d'oree du Samarkand' (1980, No English version) has him travelling to central Asia to rescue Rasputin and find a lost treasure. "Corto Maltese in Siberia" (1980) starts in Shanghai but soon Corto and Rasputin are roaming China and northern Asia in pursuit of a shipment of Czarist gold. "A Midsummer Morning's Dream" ('Les Celtiques', 1971) takes Corto to Ireland, Wales, and Brittany in 4 stories set in the last year of WWI. I know of no English translation for 'Les Helvetiques' (1987), a mystical tale in which Corto meets the expatriate German author Hermann Hesse in Switzerland. "Fable of Venice" (1977) is a tale of intrigue and hermeticism in the early years of Italian Fascism. The last Corto tale published before Pratt's death of cancer in Lausanne was the as-yet untranslated 'Mu' (1988), another mystical story in which Corto discovers the lost Pacific continent. I am informed that there is a story set in the 1936 - 40 Spanish Civil War, but have no information about it.

Pratt's work is defined by character and ideas and contrasts frames full of thoughtful exposition with action sequences devoid of words. His inspiration was Milton Caniff, whose comic strip, "Terry and the Pirates", began as a contemporary (1934) adventure story set in the South Pacific. Caniff was a master of black and white and his signature image was a powerful contrast defined by negative space. Pratt imitated this as well as Caniff's use of broad, powerful brushstrokes. Equally important were Caniff's complex and often tragic characters, his use of pathos, ongoing sub-plots, mysterious and powerful femme-fatales etc. Pratt authored or co-authored many comix besides Corto and it's well worth reading "Indian Summer" and "El Gaucho", historical adventures written by Pratt but with art by Milo Manara.

It's interesting to me to contrast the development of Pratt's Corto and Caniff's Terry, both children of their times. Following his South Seas adventures Terry joins the U.S. Air Force; in continuous syndication until fairly recently he fought in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Terry is the heroic policeman, a child of the depression sharing his author's disapproval of Communism and disappointment with the '60's generation. Corto is the child of the '60's. Always a free agent, occasionally taking up arms but usually only in self-defense, he is skeptical of 'the establishment': a ronin maintaining a cool pose but compelled by a belief in fair play to take on causes not his own. Always more interested in place and personality than mere loot, Corto's adventures gradually turn into a mystical quest for something greater than wordly treasure.

Complex characters, lush atmosphere and subtle plots give the Corto Maltese books far more heft than other "graphic novels." Set during World War I, they tell the adventures of a freebooter and adventurer. Want to know what the Amazon is really like?

What a wonderful graphic novel this is. The cast of characters is nothing short of stellar and there are enough accurate historical references in here to delight anyone who prefers a little historical salt in their fiction. The story is set in Siberia and Manchuria during the Russian Civil War and two historical figures feature prominently: Ataman Semenov (whom Pratt seems to have modeled mistakenly on another Ataman, Ataman Kalmykov), and Baron von Ungern-Sternberg, the "Mad Baron." The latter, amazingly, is depicted true to life. Pratt seemed to do his best work when the setting was Russia or Ethiopia, and along with "Early years" and "The Golden House of Samarkand", this is one of the finest examples of his work, both in writing and artwork. An excellent place to start reading the Corto Maltese stories.

All of Pratt's work is wonderful but this has to be his masterpiece, an adroit interplay of history and fantasy, ranging across China and Siberia in the ruin of empires following the first world war. As usual Pratt creates compelling minor characters playing out tragic roles on a vast canvas of historical events. The villainous Cossack ataman Semenov is superb, although in fact Pratt was obviously unaware that the real man was more eastern-European than Oriental in appearance. Pratt as usual uses historical detail brilliantly and fascinates us with the details of history. I could wish that not every pistol was a Nambu (except for the American's .45) but that is a mere quibble. Strongly recommended.

This was not a big book, but it was very powerful. Many of the really important lessons that we learn come from our parents and they give us a solid foundation. If you didn't have a great relationship with your dad, then I implore you to read this book and feel the goodness that can come from having one and absorb the wisdom.

This book was particularly appealing to me because I just love to seeing families that are really close and the kids learn just as many good things from their fathers as they do their mothers. I feel like I got to know Grant Pratt and I too am now a better man.

I interviewed James Michael Pratt on "The Inside Success Show" and loved every minute of it. It's obvious that he loved his dad very much and it's no wonder, the lessons he learned from him are priceless.
Here's some of what you'll learn from the book:
** What lie Grant Pratt said that helped him to save the planet
** How you could have bought LAX for $5.00 when it was a bean field
** What simple things you can say to keep romance alive and well
** Why it's better to be kind than to be right
** How to make sure you have a "good name"
** What are the 3 most powerful words ever to be spoken
** And much, much more ..

Randy (Dr. Proactive) Gilbert
Author of "AmazonBestSellerSecrets.com" and "Success Bound"

They suffered the greatest economic depression in America's history only to come out of it and take on the Nazi's and Imperial Japan. This book, an homage to James Michael Pratt's father, reveals ten core values which shaped his father's generation and helped them to take on and defeat two of the greatest challenges which have faced America.

With wry humor, Pratt reveals life principles which are both timely and timeless. A bargain at any price, reading "Dad" is nourishment to the soul. It is an ideal book for those who lived through this era, were raised by "The Greatest Generation" or, most importantly, would like to transmit these important values to their children.

I bought the book for one of my gothic friends thinking it was about misery but when I opened it up I was entranced by the quotes. I don't view it as a negative book even though most of the quotes are not cheerful. It makes you think and it was very captivating to see how some of my favorite authors had hidden meanings in their writing which I did not see until it was taken from the context as a quote. I great book for those who are into quotes and looking into a different type of reading material.

If you are a nihilist or are just interested (or curious -I know I was) in nihilism then you should definately check out this book. I got mine at the library and ended up buying multiple copies. It helps me put forth evidence in essays and other things I write of how nihilism has been present through out the ages.

Informative, entertaining, and tender. If I ever live in a nursing home, I want Dr. Rickey to be there.

We've known Rickey since he was 9 weeks old. It is fun to watch his success over the years. "Dr.Rickey" is a great book for all ages. Having gone on a Therapy tour with Rickey and our dog Sam we saw how important Rickey's job is. Chris Cave Wilmot, NH

The DC Universe contains thousands of quality characters. Unfortunately, only a small fraction are used to even half of their potential. Every so often, an author will dust off one of these forgotten gems and make readers take notice, such as George Pratt did with Hans von Hammer, the Enemy Ace, in this book. A true graphic novel, not a trade collection, this story is a beautiful piece of work. It's an interesting exploration of what makes a soldier, told in a series of flashbacks brought on through an aged Hammer's interview by a Vietnam vet.

Actually, I would rather give it 9 of 10 stars, due to the art. Pratt's painted pages are great, but they're not very detailed, so it's hard to decipher exactly what's occurring at times. Still, it's a minor problem. DC should put it back in print.

Being an aviation buff and military reenactor I have grown to recognize that war is a sickness that has plagued mankind for eons past. George Pratt brings the meaning of war and the emotional scars it leaves on it's victims, the survivors, to life in characters who are generations apart but who suffer from the same endless mental anguish for the rest of their lives. Each being left to wrestle with their own mental demons long after the war(s) are over. This is a very emotional novel that left me to ponder the fate of all those who tasted combat. My heart goes out to those poor souls whose respective governments left them alone to deal with their personal horrors once the smoke has cleared. I'm not afraid to admit to shedding a tear at the end of this wonderful novel. This book, like "All Quiet on the Western Front" should be required reading by anyone who is contemplating joining the military or better yet, those at the "top" who wantonly send their children away to be slaughtered.

I use this series of Here, I am Lord as part of my classes for religious instruction for younger teenagers (12-14 years old). The stories feature the range of human emotion and life, challenging one to grow through self-awareness and reflection.

I bought this book for my almost teenage son, and I enjoyedreading it myself. It was very insightful and full of great shortstories. As usual the authors have did it again!

I am Louisa Barnes Pratt's great-great-great-great granddaughter and my mother gave me this book to read a while ago. It is not only inspirational but it is a fascinating description of LDS History.

This book follows a strong woman through a fascinating life filled with trials, tribulations, joys and surprises. It gives a view into the pioneer life from a, most of the time, single mother's perspective. Louisa Barnes Pratt is a testament to her faith in God and her will to follow her convictions and beliefs at any cost. I would recommend this book to anybody interested in history and women's issues!