I actually bought this book just for the "Dave Mc Kean" value. I was surprised to read a sick and twisted tale that rivals the comic series Todd McFarlane has done for KISS. It also has a great art by Michael Zulli, although I like his pencilled art on the Sandman series: the Wake. ... not a big Alice Cooper fan. I heard that lots of Cooper maniacs are after this gem from the now defunct Marvel Music series...

A wonderful story from some people with a beautifully twisted vision

The Last Temptation is based on a concept created by rock star Alice Cooper and Neil Gaiman (author of the Sandman comics). The story was the basis for Alice Cooper's album of the same name. However, after the album was finished it was clear that the story needed to be told. It would have been a crime to keep the story of Steven and how he was tempted by the mysterious Showman from the public. On the day before Hallowe'en one year, while walking home from school with his friends, Steven discovers an old theater. They encounter a strange man in a battered coat and top hat who offers them a ticket to the theater. It's the theater of the real, "The only entertainment that gives you undiluted wonder". However, there is only one ticket. Only one boy can visit the theater, and didn't your parents tell you not to accept presents from strangers? Steven's no fool, but when his friends accuse him of being to scared to take the ticket he has no choice but to follow the Showman into his strange, twisted carnival of souls. What Steven doesn't know is that this is the Theater of the Real, and he isn't just the audience, he's also the star, and the show must go on

I knew Thomas Knott for 8 years. We worked in the same area in Curtis Bay MD. I can attest this man knows his dogs from top to bottom and I would trust anything he says to be gospel.

Easy to read information. This book cover all aspects of dog training in a way anyone can understand. I beileve any person owning a dog should have a copy of this excellent work. From puppy to utility all is explained clearly. The book covers handlers errors and some situation that can arise during training. I think this situations could have been explained in more detail, other than that, this book is great! It even includes an appendix about jump construction. Really is a great book.

Note:The authors of the book are Thomas Knott with Dolores Coope

This is an excellent book on the mystery of DB (Dan) Cooper. Tosaw is a good writer and tells a story well. He has also done his homework and lays out the facts very carefully and completley. I even learned a thing or two about the mystery I didn't know before such as they did find more bits of the plane Cooper flung out than just the money in 1980.

Tosaw's theory is also sound. I am glad that he is not one of these people laboring under the delusion that Richard McCoy was DB Cooper since its now known he was somewhere else at the time.

Tosaw also makes a $10,000 dollar offer for anyone finding anymore of the money and the last 1/5 of the book is pages of serial numbers of the bills given to Cooper for the ransom. I wonder if anyone ever collected?

Living in Oregon all my life, I was glad to find a good book about this local mystery.

This is one of the best books I have ever read on investigations into unsolved mysteries, the FBI should never of let Mr. Tosaw slip out of their organization. It is a book that you have to read cover to cover at one sitting.

Gerald Vaughan-Irving

I was just a kid. Few people knew him

I bought this because my family tree has major roots in Cooperstown and I wanted to envision what it was like for my ancestors there. The book did that, but it also gave larger insight into some very human and interesting characters, and I was impressed by how, simultaneously, life then was as sophisticated in terms of relationships and politics but far more brutal and austere. The author writes well, perhaps a little too detailed and scholarly at times for some of us, but overall it's tough to put it down once started. It centers on the father of author James Fenimore Cooper and how a poor craftsman from the Philadelphia, PA area founds a town in the wilds of upstate NY and goes on to become a judge and Congressman, endure tragedies, and ultimately get brought down. William Cooper is treated a little critically at times by the author, while I came to see Cooper to be a passionate and vulnerable person who tried hard to be what he thought he should be but failed by letting the opinions of others drive his actions sometimes to excess. If you're into history at all or how life was in pioneer, post-Revolution times, this is an excellent book. The people come alive for us.

Fascinating, though too long. I recommend starting with Taylor's _Liberty Men and Great Proprietors_, which seems to have been less of a "labor of love."

The tale of James Fenimore Cooper's father on the New York frontier in the 1790s is an Horatio Alger story run amuck. Born to a poor Quaker farm family, William Cooper learned the craft of making and repairing wheels before reinventing himself as a land speculator, founder of Cooperstown, judge, congressman, patrician farmer and Federalist party powerhouse.

Alan Taylor's WILLIAM COOPER'S TOWN: POWER AND PERSUASION ON THE FRONTIER OF THE EARLY AMERICAN REPUBLIC is an outstanding biography of an archetypical American character, an extraordinary social history of life and politics on the late eighteenth-century frontier and a brilliant exercise in literary analysis.

This is a wonderful read. Taylor's lively prose, compelling narrative and original, fresh story sustained my interest from cover to cover. I never would have imagined such a dull title could cover such a marvelous book. WILLIAM COOPER'S TOWN certainly deserves the Pulitzer Prize it was awarded.

Taylor not only describes William Cooper's rise from rags to riches and even more meteoric fall but analyzes Cooper's political odyssey in America's frontier democratic workshop.

"As an ambitious man of great wealth but flawed gentility, Cooper became caught up in the great contest of postrevolutionary politics: whether power should belong to traditional gentlemen who styled themselves 'Fathers of the People' or to cruder democrats who acted out the new role of 'Friends of the People.'"

Taylor argues "Cooper faced a fundamental decision as he ventured into New York's contentious politics. Would he affiliate with the governor and the revolutionary politics of democratic assertion? Or would he endorse the traditional elitism championed by...Hamilton." "Brawny, ill educated, blunt spoken, and newly enriched," writes Taylor, "Cooper had more in common with George Clinton than with his aristocratic rivals." "For a rough-hewn, new man like Cooper, the democratic politics practiced by Clinton certainly offered an easier path to power. Yet, like Hamilton, Cooper wanted to escape his origins by winning acceptance into the genteel social circles where Clinton was anathema." Taylor concludes "Cooper's origins pulled him in one political direction, his longing in another."

James Fenimore Cooper's third novel, THE PIONEERS, is an ambivalent, fictionalized examination of his father's failure to measure up to the genteel stardards William Cooper set for himself and that his son James internalized. The father's longing became the son's demand.

Taylor analyzes the father-son relationship, strained by Williams decline before ever fully measuring up to the stardards he had set, and the son's fictionalized account of this relationship.

James Fenimore Cooper spent most of his adult life seeking the "natural aristocrat" his father wanted to be and compensating for his father's shortcomings. It is ironic that the person James Fenimore Cooper found to be the embodiment of the "natural aristocrat" his father had longed to be and that he had created in THE CRATER and his most famous character, Natty Bumppo, was the quintessential "Friend of the People"--Andrew Jackson.

I enjoyed this book immensely and give it my strongest recommendation!

This is a truly massive work (600+ pages all in "King-size") more suited for the coffee-table than the field. If there is anything you would like to know about Birds of Paradise you can find it here. The first part (150+ pages) of the book deals with a huge number of scientific matters examples being the discovery, ecology, biogeography, evolution, conservation, and reproductive behaviour of the Paradisaeidae. A absolutely astonishing number of tables exist in this part of the book. The next 300+ pages of the book deals with the individual species (all 42 or so species incl. Manucodes and Riflebirds). These descriptions are truly comprehensive dealing with description (incl. juv. and nestling appearance), distribution, systematics, subspecies, size, distribution (incl. map), habitat, vocalisation, courtship behaviour, diet, status, where any knowledge is lacking, and experiences in aviculture (this is just a sample of the subjects dealt with!!!). Numerous black-and-white drawings show different behaviours and a sonogram is often included. The text is scientific (with numerous references), however it should not present a large problem to the average reader, as a glossary exists in the back of the book. In the centre of the book 15 colour plates exists. One shows old drawings of Bird of Paradise, another shows different habitat photos, and yet another shows different nesting behaviour and moulting of a number of species (also in photos). The remaining plates show some of the highest quality drawings of birds I have ever seen. All the species of Birds of Paradise are depicted in a huge variety of plumage's (e.g. males, females, juveniles, and different subspecies). One plate is even devoted to their egg's. The drawings can only bee described as a true appetiser for anyone interested in beauty. The last two plates depict a number of hybrids apparently rather common in the Birds of Paradise. A chapter also deals with this subject. Well, after all this scientific nonsense, who would want to buy this book (other than a scientist)? Everybody interested in special, interesting, and beautiful birds. If you are going to New Guinea in the near future this is absolutely also a book worth looking at. A five page chapter also discusses how, when, and where best to see Birds of Paradise (also as a the tourist!!!). It will prepare you for this astonishing group of birds like no field guide could ever do. The only thing I would have wished for is more colour photos.

Hey thes book is very good i am from denmark and when i first saw it it seams like a good book, nice colorfotos of every species and easy readable text what moore can i say buy it *s*

I have just returned from Irian Jaya and spent the time looking at birds (including some BOP)and reading this excellent book. It is an extremely thorough, comprehensive and enjoyable book. Anybody who has an interest in Birds of Paradise - or indeed birds in general will do well to invest in this book. One day all bird books will be like this. Well done Frith, Beehler & Cooper - well done indeed.

A little basic, but a useful look at basic stats of the leading consulting firms. Also recommend the Vault Guide to the Top 50 Consulting Firms - the latter gives an insider's view inside each firm.

This book provides invaluable information for anyone considering a career in consulting.

If you have wondered how the major consulting firms are organized and how they recruit new consultants, get this book. All firms are clearly delineated in terms of culture, typical hours per week and travel requirements, organization of services, recruitment practices, compensation, and employee ratings and insights.

The book directs its attention to recent MBAs; it would be strengthened by inclusion of evaluative comments addressing more experienced talent from industry. None-the-less, any reader can develop a good idea of which firms to target in a job search.

The information on compensation is based on 1999 figures, making it relevant for today's reader. In addition, the well-rounded profiles will remain timely for several years.

First let me say that I love the Carl books, especially "Good Dog Carl." I love the concept, the way that you get to make up your own words. Most of the Carl books are inventive and endearing classics. In fact, perhaps the reason that I am so disappointed with this adaptation is that I am holding it to this same high standard. The Carl books are awesome; however, this pop up version is just OK, at best.

I agree with the Horn book review which notes that the pop up and interactive parts are not especially creative. Perhaps this is because they took a story that was not specifically designed for a pop up format and made it pop up. At any rate, I think they could have been more ingenious in their choice of what they made pop up or move.

Also, there is one page where Carl and the baby are looking in Mommy's mirror that is downright ridiculous. The page is designed to move so that it looks like they are blinking, but instead, the eyes just look freaky like something out of the Exorcist! Very strange.

Surely such an excellent book deserves a better pop up adaptation.

My child loves this pop-up book...maybe it's because we own rotties ourselves, but she hasn't gotten tired of this book that she's had for two years. She always asks to read it and enjoys the pop-ups, and push and pull tabs.

Carl Pops Up by Alexandra Day

Carl Pops Up is a creative book. It does not have many words, yet the meaning is easily interpreted. The pull tabs are a clever way of keeping you interested in the book. Carl, the dog, is put in charge of looking after the baby while the mother's not there. He feeds the baby, played with the baby, and even bathes the baby. He puts the baby to bed after doing these things just as if he is a babysitter. This dog gives new meaning to the words,"man's best friend." I recommend this to anyone who likes to read good, humorous books.

If you are the type of person who, as a child, walked around your house knocking on walls looking for a loose board leading to a secret passage way, then this story is for you. I was one of those curious kids, so I knew I was going to love this story. Ms. Cooper weaves an incredible tale involving three separate couples that will make you laugh, wonder and perhaps, like me, shed a few tears. Not only does it tell a story from the spooky present, but it takes us to a time that was long forgotten. Cobb Island is a story you don't want to miss! Make sure to read its sequel, Echoes from the Mist, as well!

Olivia Hazelwood, Liv to her friends, has agreed to take her younger brother, Doug to spend a week on Cobb Island, off the coast of Virginia. Since an accident claimed their parents a decade ago, Livi has been more of a mother than sister to Doug. The 29 year old linguist and openly lesbian, Liv is recently back from a Peace Corps tour in Africa and is looking forward to catching up with the changes in Doug's life. One of the biggest being that he is very much in love with Marcy Redding. Marcy's family moved last year and the teens have been nursing their love over distance. This separation has prompted Marcy to invite Doug (and Liv)to visit Cobb Island, the colonial era, ancestral home of the Redding family. Marcy has also coaxed her older sister, Kayla to help with the chaperoning duties.

The tall redheaded Kayla seems to take an immediate dislike to Doug, and possibly, to Liv. Certainly the gorgeous 25 year old has difficulty communicating with Liv in anything other than an abrupt, rather rude, not to mention secretive, manner. Her behavior is even more odd given that the women seem almost magnetically drawn to one another. Liv is surprised, confused, and a little overwhelmed by the intensity of her feelings for Kayla. Impossibly, at times Kayla seems to read Liv's mind. Or is it impossible? The three century old Redding house itself, with its secret rooms, strange noises, and a library filled with generations of Redding enigmas has as important a role in the story as any of the characters. Several things about Kayla and the house are a little strange, yet enchanting. Liv finds herself falling under the spell of both mysteries. Meanwhile, desperate for time alone, the lovesick teens decide to visit the mainland just as a storm arises, leaving their older siblings stranded and forced to confront these powerful emotions.

Trapped by the storm, the women begin researching the early years of the house. Finding a hidden journal, Liv and Kayla discover possible answers to the Redding family legacy via a third romance. Bridget Redding, and her sister-in-law, Failynn, lived on Cobb Island in the late 1600s and struggled to find a place for their love in an unforgiving time for women, and condemning of those who dared to love. Could their story hold the secret answers to questions about the Redding family, the house on Cobb Island, and possibly even why Kayla and Liv seem destined to have found each other? Thus Cobb Island contains three love stories entwined in its pages along with a number of witty interactions, sweet moments and endearing scenes between the various couples. There is even a dreadful villain who demands being detested.

Overall, Cobb Island is a magical little romance and a charming mystery. A few of the plot threads are not neatly tied at the end and some elements of the historical period appear a bit anachronistic to this reviewer. Nevertheless, the overall effect of Cobb Island is a fun and fast-paced romantic mystery with a touch of spookiness thrown into the mix. It provides more than enough pleasure to justify its purchase. In fact there is enough pleasure to anticipate future stories from Blayne Cooper, including the continued adventures of Kayla and Liv in the forthcoming Echoes from the Mist.

  
Cobb Island is one of the best stories I've ever read! Even after the third reading, I still find myself drawn into the suspense. It's not easy writing for two main characters and keeping it believable, compelling and flowing. Ms. Cooper is able to achieve this with four main characters with great success! Job well done, Ms. Cooper. I look forward to all of your writings!

The watercolor illustrations employed represent the setting perfectly, regardless if the point in the story was that of a rural Kansas, Kansas City street life, and Mexican village. What wonderful impressionistic artwork! There seems to be an inner light in the faces of each person represented in the illustrations.
The action and music portrayed in the text, carries over into the illustrations. The book's illustrations show movement and action. A sense of happiness or loneliness is conveyed through the watercolor paintings. They are very explicit in showing emotion. Overall, text and illustrations, lend this to being one of the best biographical books for young children.

I thouroughly enjoyed this book. I didn't know much about Langston Hughes before I had read it. I think I understand him a little better after reading it. What attracted me the most was finding a book about an African American boy who learned his own family history and could feel proud of it. I guess the following quote sums it up "Almost always, his grandma told stories of heroes. Heroes who were black, just like Langston." I am volunteering in an inner city middle school. The kids I tutor do not read anywhere near their grade level. I think they might be able to read this book, and still enjoy it. It's not a baby book, although, I suppose a young child might enjoy it, too. I also like the warm and colorful pictures.

This story is so moving. Showing hardships, love, and finding acceptance.It tells of an Afician child learning about his history and walking tall as a man. It was very moving, the pictures were soft and had a texture of warmth. I would highly recommend it for reading.

Connal MacArren is one of the first of his world to leave the planet and travel through space. He would never have ventured out at all if it weren't for his dratted kinsman, Garris, who left without telling anyone goodbye. All he left was a cryptic note saying that he was going to see the Dreamweaver Liandra Tavor. Liandra is an Asarian, one of a small race who can walk the dreamscape and find answers for people in dreams. She is sure that this Garris never made it to see her, though it is true that he may have been traveling to see her, but she cannot persuade Connal that she knows nothing of Garris' whereabouts. Connal quickly tires of Liandra's game of pretending not to know anything and kidnaps her to return to his home planet of Caledonia. If Liandra will not tell Connal where Garris is, perhaps a little imprisonment might change her mind...

Liandra is determined to hate Caledonia. They are so primitive there. They eat animals and plants, pick flowers, do their own cleaning and seem to not use machines hardly at all! How have they escaped the notice of the League for so long? Even though she gradually comes to care for Caledonia and its people, she is determined to escape for there is something terribly wrong in the dreamscape. Whenever she tries to search for Garris in her dreams, she feels an alien presence that is trapping other Asarians so they can never leave. She fears for her people and wants desperately to contact her father with this information, but Connal does not want anyone else to of Caledonia's existence. However, he finds himself softening as he spends more time with Liandra. Maybe aliens are not as bad as he has always thought? Still, he is positive that Liandra is nothing but a glorified prostitute who is willing to have anyone into her mind and into her bed. With Connal determined to think the worst of Liandra and Liandra trying to escape to free her people at every opportunity, will these two ever get around to admitting their feelings for one another?

This book was interesting because it is basically a historical romance set in space. Connal MacArran is a typical clan chieftain of Scotland with Liandra an outsider who finds herself falling in love with a new way of life. I love Highland romances and so was excited to read this book and I was not disappointed. The author deftly blends the traditional Highland setting with the idea of aliens and mind powers. If you enjoy either Highland or Futuristic romance, give this book a shot - I think that you will like it!

When I first read the premise for this book, I thought how will this plot line ever work? But, it works very well. The story line keeps you guessing on what will happen next. The characters are fully developed and believable. Connal is the original Alpha-male and Liandra is an excellent match for him in every way. This book will definately find a spot on my "keeper" shelf.

The Review:
An opponent lies disguised far in the passionless deepness of space ready to obliterate Caledonian Chieftain Connal MacArran. MacArran must protect his world. In doing so he is propelled into an affiliation with Liandra Tavor a mentor with the League of Worlds. Connal is both fascinated and repulsed by the mythical libido the foreign enchantress is said to embody. The green haired Asarian dreamweaver has never experienced anything to match the feeling she realizes as she dreamshares with Connal on her crystal bed.

On the surface MacArran's task appears quite fundamental. He will avail himself of Liandra's exceptional powers to find a missing clansman Garris then flee from her as soon as his assignment is completed. As with most simple designs little goes according to plan. Liandra's life is threatened. Connal faces the fury of his clan when he takes her with him to his world. The planet, which refuses to confederate with the League of Worlds has been kept obscured to preclude foreign adulteration. Liandra is no more pleased to be with Connal than he appears to enjoy as her captor. Once Liandra realizes where she has been brought Connal decides she must never leave. MacArran's absolute intractability toward contact with other cultures and his intolerance against aliens clouds his reason. He continues to oppose Liandra and when she attempts to escape punishes her then warns others of his clan against her as an alien. At times he is a difficult person to understand. Liandra is from a race that is very aware of their own sensuality. They do ultimately join completely with one man forever. Liandra has never felt any real attraction to a man until she finds herself head to toe with MacArran during their mind dream in their attempt to find Connal's kinsman. The pair is attacked during the dream by alien creatures leaving Liandra unconscious and MacArran facing the notion that it is either take her with him or leave her there to die. He needs her abilities; he takes her with him. Neither wants to admit the growing affinity they feel for the other.

In Crystal Dreams writer Cooper presents an unconventional science fiction type romance filled with an abundance of engaging characters and situations. Nineteenth century Scot-English relationships are present in a well-designed universe. The two principal planets are well developed by writer Cooper. This is not the usual science fiction offering. The romance emerges against a convincing backdrop of dreadful evil and other world detail. As presented in Crystal Dreams Liandra is a supposable personality filled with enough angst to keep her engaging. MacArran and his hardheaded notions become a bit ennui after a time. Even with my Scottish ancestry there were moments that I found myself wanting to 'smack him up aside the head' as he continues to oppose Liandra despite awareness that she is not 'tainting' his world.

Crystal Dreams is a well written page turner which draws readers right into the account from the opening page and carries them on a roller coaster ride of agitation through the tale and on down to the final paragraph. A nice book for a lazy summer's reading in the hammock. Not for everyone. Those who enjoy romance and/or futuristic science fiction will enjoy the tale.

Reviewed by: molly martin