Mr. Spike Walker takes you from elation to utter dispair as you read through detailed accounts from the primary sources. Those of us who know the sea will only have a deeper respect for its truly awesome and untold powers. Those that have not been able to experience the sea will feel as though they have after reading Mr. Walkers' accounts. "Working on the Edge" will ignite a sense of adventure and longing to experience all that life has to offer. By no means will I pass on without visiting the Alaskan coastline after reading this book. Mr. Walker's experiences will bring to light part of the core of human existance with the world around us. This is truly an incredible story of one man's account of some of his years of life. I feel that I have not only read a great book, but as though I have met an amazing individual who shared some of himself with me. This glimpse into life is not to be missed. Give this book away when you are done so that others can experience it too.

Incredible! Having lived in Alaska for 3 years, serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, I can attest to the authors gripping portrayal of working in this profession. Spike Walker delivers a gritty, real and inside look at king crab fishing in the Bering Sea. I have never read a book that was more in depth on the job as well as the off boat life of a fisherman. Having seen what he describes in the book first hand, with the tragedies and glories, this is one book you will not want to pass up. I would reccomend this to anyone who enjoys stories of the sea. I have owned this book for 2 years and still read it often. This is one novel that won't sit on your shelf for long. The Alaskan king crab fishing fleet is an example of brave men and women, at their finest, and sometimes their worst. Laden with success and sorrow, you will definately get a better understanding of America's most dangerous job, and develop a deep appreciation of what these men and women do every season to provide for the rest of us.

Don't hesitate any longer, get this book today.

Spike Walker slams us into the icey grip of alaska's crab fishing industry like a "rogue wave". His ability to put the reader on the deck of an alaskan crab boat and suffer the cold misery is unparalelled! Stories of hardship and heroisim abound in this book. The great Jack London could not write a better account. We, the reader are forced to look upon our mundane existance and somehow find our day to day complaints sound rather hallow. Mr. Walker makes us want to stand alittle strighter and try alittle harder. If you love the outdoors, this book is a "must read". I've read it twice!!

I read this fascinating account of the Grants' twenty years' of work on Darwin's finches after visiting the islands and seeing the birds. The author's summary of their monumental studies is one of the best pieces of popular scientific writing I've ever read. It is lucid, well-organized, an excellent read, and (so far as this chemist can tell) scientifically accurate without getting bogged down in the enormous amount of detail involved in such a study. I had not realized the great speed with which selection pressures can produce changes in species--although, given the speed with which insects and microorganisms develop resistance to pesticides and antibiotics, in retrospect I note that there are ample clues on this. The human implications of the rapid adaptations of these organisms (bugs, bacteria) are frightening.

The Beak of the Finch by Jonathan Weiner is a very mind-expanding, scientific, yet descriptive and intriguing book. It presents evidence behind the theory of evolution in an easy-to-understand format. It summarizes a twenty-year study of Darwin's finches on the Galapagos Islands. It also incorperates Darwin's life and research into the finch study by Rosemary and Peter Grant. The descriptions and diverse experiments explained make this Pulitzer Prize-winning book very enjoyable to read. However, there are parts where there is too much repetition of ideas. There are also parts in which Weiner unneccessarily delves into religious beliefs and dismisses them, though they often have nothing to do with evolution, the topic of his book. Overall, the book is well-written, informative, and interesting.

Weiner sets the reader down with the ghost of Darwin, on the Galapagos Islands where the Grants have been studying since 1973. He introduces us to 'Darwin's finches,' the same birds Darwin observed and wrote about in "Origin of the Species".

We're introduced to a populationg that is perfect for evolutionary studies--a limited number of species in a closed ecosystem on an isolated island. Darwin couldn't have known what his observations would lead to so many years later, but Weiner shares with us the Grants meticulous study of over 20 generations of finches. Thousands of individual birds were measured, and their progeny tracked. Through this book, we see what they saw--evolution in action.
Weiner weaves facts into a nice story. The book is engaging and reads like a novel, so much so that my 13 year-old daughter is now reading it.

The conclusions (and no, this isn't a spoiler) are that evolution by natural selection occurs and that selection can occur quickly (it's not always a slow process). Weiner (and the Grants) also touches on speciation in fish populations, and bacterial and viral evolution.

This was required reading in an introductory evolution class in college. I hope, someday, students in high school will be assigned this book. It was excellent, and will probably be wrapped up as Christmas gifts for a few of my friends and family.

Once A Pirate grabs the reader from page one until the last. Lt. Carly Callahan's jet fighter crashes into the ocean taking the reader with her through the entire tense ordeal.

Carly is rescued by Andrew Spencer, captain of a pirate ship. Not only does she learn that she's been thrown back in time, but her rescuer is a Duke out for revenge. Somehow, Carly has to convince Andrew that she's not Lady Amanda, but a figter pilot from the future. Read Once A Pirate and fall in love with Carly and Andrew and a cast of characters who support and make this a very believable, and exiting story--especially the young motherless boy Carly befriends.

No one hooks the reader with her action beginnings like Susan Grant! This is a keeper!

Lt. Carly Callahan is a fighter pilot who crashes into the Atlantic Ocean. She is pulled from the ocean by pirate, Andrew Spencer. Andrew believes Carly is Lady Amanda, the soon-to-be bride of his rival. Both Andrew and Carly are stubborn, strong-willed people. Carly refuses to believe that she has traveled back into time until she has researched her situation and Andrew refuses to believe that Carly is not Lady Amanda. He also fights his attraction to Carly. Will Carly convince Andrew of who she is and where she is from or will she be sacrificed to the horrible Duke of Westridge? Will Andrew ever explain why he is willing to sacrifice Carly? These were just a few of the questions racing around in my head as a read this book. I loved that the action in this book did not stop. Even better was the laughter. Andrew's problems understanding Carly's ideas and the antics of the crew would surprise me through out the book causing quite a few people to doubt my sanity. Ms. Grant has taken the often used plot of time travel and made it into more. It is wonderful to see a strong heroine with an unusual job. I have put this book in a place of honor on my keeper shelf.

Lieutenant Carly Callahan had always loved to fly. When flying over the Atlantic Ocean, she encounters a storm and has to eject from her jet. She is rescued almost at once by a man who reminded her of a nineteenth century pirate. Everything from his clothes to his ship tell her that she made the incredible feat of traveling through time. As her panic increases, so does her desire for her captor, whom she feels she has known and loved. If this isn't enough for her to handle, Andrew believes that she is Lady Amanda, his Duke cousin's betrothed. With plans to ransom her for revenge, Carly has six weeks to convince him that she's not who he thinks she is.

Sir Andrew Spencer has suffered at the hands of his father's family. With thoughts of revenge, Andrew takes Amanda captive. He didn't plan on the pull he felt toward her, nor the dreams that he can't stop having. In every dream he is trying to save the woman he loves, but is unable to help her. He has dreams of metal and helicopters, something that doesn't even exsist in his time. Over the course of their journey, Andrew finally excepts the awesome possibility that Carly came to him from the twentieth century.

This is a great book with where emotions run high. Grant portrays Carly and Andrew who are solemates in many lives. I couldn't put it down and read it in less than one day!

What a wonderful story! This book should be read by young, old and those in between - it has a great message & lesson to be learned from this book. These two women had a great deal of courage; but despite their age, they were able to overcome the challenges which they were faced & the tribe which deserted them had to come to them for help. All races and cultures can learn from this book.

I purchased this book originally because I am interested in the whole idea of living off the land and also of the strength of women overcoming incredible odds. I had given it to my 75 year-old aunt to read first, because I didn't think I could get to it anytime soon. I had told her about this book explaining that I was looking forward to reading it. She was familiar with the ways of the Alaskan natives and their culture, and explained to me what the book description told of the Athabaskan Indian culture. She read the book in one day and loved it, telling me I made a wise choice in getting this book. Well, I read the book today (in one day), and I loved it as well. It's an awsome book of survival, of overcoming adversity, of the strength and wisdom of women. It's a book of human nature, of how when times get tough, it changes people, sometimes NOT for the better. It's a book that tells of how, when you think you have it tough, you don't. And when you actually do have it tough, you will surprise yourself when you find the courage and instinct for survival within. This should be mandatory reading for all women. Mothers should give it to their daughters when they are going through a tough time. It will give them the confidence to move forward, knowing they will come out a better & stronger person for doing it. Great book! Thank you Velma Wallis for writing it!

I read this story about 2 years ago and recommended for it Ophra's bookclub review. It is so uplifting and shows that someone of age can still be worthwhile and make something of their life, regardless of the situation they might be in. An older person has a lot of worth left to give to themself and others. Reading the story of how these two old women survived against the odds and how they helped themselves and each other to cope was inspiring. How they were left by family and friends and still moved on to survive, it something that happens to some of the aging people today. I reread this book every now and thenwhenever I feel down. The book helps us to remember that we can do anything we want to do, if we want it bad enough. It also helps us to remember that we are never too old to be helpful. An aging person has a lot of widsom to share if they can't share anything else. Talk to an aging person about their life and learn something new and maybe interesting to you.

I read this immediately after finishing U.S. Grant's Personal Memoirs. Mr. Kaltman's book lessons and examples are almost entirely taken from that source.

Some of the several hundred management lessons the author extracts from Grant's masterpiece provide interesting insight. Many are, however, superficial, obvious or an outright stretch. I found some that drew lessons belied by a deeper and fuller knowledge of the historic example of Grant from which the author sought to extract his "evidence."

Actually, my impression was that this book would be more useful to a young reader who had a cursory knowledge of history and was looking for a framework for decision making.

For serious managers, I suggest reading Grant's Personal Memoirs. Not only great history, but Grant's skilled and honest telling of his Civil War story is accessible and provides many direct lessons buttressed by a much deeper set of facts. In fact, I plan to keep Grant's Personal Memoirs on my "Manager's Shelf."

In and after his life, Ulysses Grant was greatly underappreciated. The same fate should not befall his current champion, Al Kaltman. His brilliant book not only paints a fascinating picture of the general who kept the American states united, it draws from his life a set of invaluable instructions I wish I could have read twenty years ago. Kaltman's maxims range from the seemingly obvious but too often ignored to the sublime wisdom gained only by great managers such as the author and Grant--wisdom that is absolutely invaluable and usually jealously guarded.

The length of the book can be intimidating at first, especially for those with hectic schedules or little patience. But I found it to be anything but ponderous. The book is fast-paced, a brisk and delightful read. I have given copies to several grateful friends, and highly recommend that you pick one up for yourself. You will regret only that you did not do so sooner, and be left wondering if the author can be persuaded to share more of his hard-earned sagacity with those of us still struggling to learn the lessons he effortlessly teaches.

Forgive me for judging a book by its cover, but I really thought this one would be a sleeping pill. Brother, was I wrong. I don't read managerial guidebooks because the usual "real-world" examples they provide bore me. This book, on the other hand, overcomes that barrier. Its far more interesting to read about Grant's decisions in battle, and the managerial lessons learned from it, than anything Donald Trump or Bill Gates has done. I highly recommend this a solid and consice biography of Grant as well as being the best management guide to ever come down the pike. After you've read it straight through once, you'll want to keep a copy of it on your desk to browse through during lunch hour. The only thing I take exception to is the title. Too much has been made about Grant's supposed drinking problems and he doesn't deserve to be remembered as a "hard drinker" or an alcoholic, which he wasn't. I would have substituted the word "whiskey" for "whittling," since Grant was seen undertaking that calming activity during the heighth of the battle of the Wilderness. It suits Grant's real personality better.

As a hopeless romantic about flying, I needed to check out the media buzz surrounding Susan Grant--an elite pilot (U.S. Air Force and now global 747s)who writes highly-original, exotic, and
steamy adventures about aviatrix heroines.

It's not just buzz. Grant is the real deal, and performs aerobatics of the heart like no other author.

The pacy, passionate Star King concerns Jas, a no-nonsense USAF fighter pilot struck by a missile and forced to leave her jet the hard way by ejecting to earth. Hurt on an arrid desert, she prepares for anything but what occurs--a transcendent encounter with another wounded warrior. His name is Rom, a starfighter pilot from a distant universe.

Now this golden demigod lies dying with the awful knowledge that he has just killed his brother in the skeleton of their burning ship, beaten by an enemy warlord. Painfully, Jas and Rom save each other, with a shared passion that will leave you limp. Is it real, or just the theater of Jas' delerious mind?

You won't know where you are at every minute in this book, but that's a very good thing because you're in skilled hands.

Abruptly, twenty years later, Jas' youthful fire has been extinguished. Now she's a dutiful mother stung by divorce who long ago gave up victory rolls in an F16 for a minivan, a surprisingly-talented artist who paints promising but only half-finished paintings.

Then earth receives visitors from an advanced civilization. Among them, Rom re-appears, and Jas' real life could begin--if her golden, aristocratic ET weren't as hardened as Rick Blaine in Casablanca, by cruel fortune and a fruitless search over time and space for the mythic desert angel who once saved him.

How Grant brings Jas and Rom together, and the glory is definitely in her details, can involve sly humor (e.g. in Rom's world, all the men stand when a woman enters the room and, as a lover, he admires the artistry of her stretch marks.) But she's also capable of snap-turning you from light-as-a-feather giddy to a sudden plunge into emotional despair.

You will not guess the twists and turns before they unfold, but you will root mightily for this couple to survive and fulfill the promise of their long-ago stolen moment in time.

This is just a wonderful novel that combines passion and writerly control in a fresh new way. I hope Rom has more family, because you can feel a series here.

The Star King is a well-written romance. The characters are fun, the romance is captivating. But this book towers over the competition because it is so much more than that. Susan Grant has written a self-help book in disguise for women that think life is over when their marraige fails. Jas, the heroine, at first blames herself for the problems leading to her divorce. Although she is bright, successful, and loved by friends and family, in her heart she doubts she will ever find the man she "sees" in her dreams, a faithful and true love, a man who's able to give her back the passion she once was capable of feeling. It takes one man, a tortured once-and-future prince, coming to her from across the stars, to slowly teach her that she deserves, and should expect, to be treasured by a man. The romance, the humor, the writing rich with vivid imagery, is all wonderful. But the feel-good sense of self-worth that a reader steps away with? Priceless.

Air Force Lieutenant Jasmine Boswell was flying her fighter jet over Saudi's no-fly zone when the missile coming out of nowhere hits her plane. She bails out of her disabled jet, but lands on an alien-looking desert with spaceships flying overhead. She also encounters an injured Romlijhian B'Kah, whose starfighter crashed killing his brother. Only his vision of the angel Jas saves his life.

Two decades later (in earth time), Jas has divorced her spouse, has two young adult children, and struggles with a mid-life crisis. Due to Rom's injuries and his failure to save his people on that fatal day, years ago, he no longer leads. Instead he is a minor smuggler, estranged from his own family. Rom and his people make first contact with earthlings. Will Rom and Jas find each other to follow up on that dream and if they do will each take the necessary steps to embrace their love?

THE STAR KING is an exciting science fiction romance or perhaps a better label might be a realistic romantic science fiction that will strongly appeal to fans of both genres. The story line is loaded with action that is augmented by an understanding of the lead characters and several of the key support players. Little things about Rom (try saying his full name three times fast) and Jas make the novel ring true even as Susan Grant flies her audience through her book in a faster than light speed. Science fiction and futuristic romance aficionados will welcome Ms. Grant into the fold and demand sequels starring several secondary cast members.

Harriet Klausner

Reading it now, the first 8 issues of the Invisibles seem almost childish. The conspiracy is painfully upfront with little mystery. The Acadia story arc that makes up the bulk of the issues is plodding and really quite dull.

But if you look closely, in the little cracks, you can see a sort of incredible sincerity and a real desire to create something special. Jack Frost is a wonderful character, Buddha as british hooligan.

Grant Morrison was trying to mold all of his greatest influences into one bold series, but it really comes off as a mess. But it's a great mess but a mess nonetheless. Morrison's effort on this was A1 and it's very obviously a great work of love.

This is where it began, and it only gets better to get a little bit worse in the end.

I have to agree with one of the earlier reviewers that this would have been a better book if it had stopped halfway through. In the first half, we are introduced to the eerie world of the Invisibles from the perspective of the young Jack Frost protagonist, with whom we can relate (obnoxious as he might be).

But the second half of the book suffers from jarring time travel sequences, high gross-out content, arcane conversations, and a lack of sympathetic characters. The Marquis de Sade is, I think, *intended* to be such a viewpoint character, but I found him too strange and off-putting to have much sympathy for him. And the Invisibles themselves already seem to know everything.

That said, I have to conclude that it's a very ambitious and engrossing book nonetheless. The high point for me was Jack Frost's initiation to the Barbelo and whatnot, at the end of the 4th chapter. That had me really hooked, despite the fact that things got less interesting as the story went on.

I can definitely recommend this book to people who liked THE ILLUMINATUS! TRILOGY and some of the more paranoid Philip K. Dick novels; that sort of thing.

This book is a MUST read for anyone with Deconstructionist or Discordian views. It is a comic book, but don't let others opinions of comics and their content sway you. This is no juvenile super-hero in tights smash-em-up for 23 pages. The Invisibles is about subversion of the status quo, deconstruction of patterned and controlled thought and trying to make sure everyone benefits from the end of the world. This book could hold some very real changes of perception for you. As the young Dane McGowan/Jack Frost is initiated into the Invisibles, so are you, given small tidbits that the reality we're all being held to is only that way because it benefits others for you to see reality in this light. You create your reality, this book can and will show you that. There are large and sinister forces behind a lot of very shady dealings in government, business, entertainment, etc., not just in the U.S., but in the world. Don't take my word for it, start looking around, question aut! ! hority and what you see on TV, you might start to see what I mean. Grant Morrison has an eye that sees past all of this. If you really get into the Invisibles, it will seem like you're being let in on a very big secret. Admittedly, it can be a very cryptic and challenging read at times, but if you're willing to put in some effort, and research this work outside of this collection or the monthly issues, you may just start to find and see "the big secret" I've described. This book could change your life, and may start us all on the road to true physical and spiritual freedom.

I loved this book and the whole series about the wonderful MacGregor family. This one contains two stories-

**Alan's story- alan is the first born son and a US Senator with aspirations for the presidency. He falls for Shelby- an eccentric Washington potter who's father was also a senator and assassinated when she was just a girl. For this reason, Shelby does not want to get back involved into politics. Alan spends most of the book plotting to win over her and I enjoyed his attempts to do so. This was a charming novel.

**Grant's story--Grant is a reclusive artist who lives in an old lighthouse. Gennie is on the run from a tragedy in her past and is stranded when her car stops. She winds up on Grant's door-like a breath of sunshine. He wants to remain a recluse but Gennie has gotten into his heart. It is quite funny and touching, esp when they go visit the Macgregor family.

I very much enjoyed these stories as i have all the macgregor novels- Nora Roberts certainly has crafted a winning dynasty.

Nora Roberts is my favorite author. I have read almost every book she has written, but my favorite stories are the ones about the MacGregors. I buy the book, and then can't put it down until I've finished it. I can't wait until the next story of the huge MacGregor family comes out, especially the story of The MacGregor himself, Daniel. Ms. Roberts never put this family to rest. My other favorite character is Eve Dallas. Hopefully she will remain a cop for a long time to come, with Roarke's help, of course!

I absolutely loved Alan & Shelby and Grant & Gennie's stories. It is always enjoyable for me to have a visit with the MacGregor family, but these two stories could stand alone on their own merit, even if the characters weren't members of one of my all time favorite families.
Shelby and Alan's story is full of fun and romance. These two are complete opposites, Alan so dignified and tactful and Shelby so flamboyant and outspoken, but they soon find out that opposites really do attract and it's lots of fun to watch them come together.
Grant and Gennie's story had me enthralled. Just the scenery alone is magnificent, but when it's added to the tumultuous romance between Grant and Gennie it makes the story a knock-out! Grant is a loner who chooses to live miles away from civilization, but when beautiful Gennie must seek refuge in his lighthouse during a storm, Grant's entire world is turned upside down, with steamy results!
So, if you are looking for a few hours of pure enjoyment, it is more than worth your while to get this book.

Grant Morrison has mastered the team dynamic on nearly every book he's ever written (Doom Patrol, The Invisibles, JLA), and his New X-Men is a fabulous example. Cyclops is now the most interesting X-Man, new characters pop up every few pages, and the costumes are better than they have been in years. The overall feel of the book is a wonderful return to the inventiveness and wit of the Lee/Kirby days, and Frank Quitely's art is drop-dead gorgeous. Ethan Van Sciver pencils a serviceable coda to the main story, and begins his tenure as the "regular fill-in" artist on the book. Van Sciver is growing noticeably with each issue, so things look pretty good. Don't expect this story to self-contain, incidentally. Morrison won't wrap up anything until he's ready to leave the book, and the closest we come to a conclusion is the end of Imperial, the next story arc. These two books make a pretty good companion set.

First and foremost: this is probably not for the casual comic reader or those unfamiliar with the genre, specifically the X-Men. This is not to say it is a difficult comic to understand, or that the concepts and/or art are too different than one might expect. It's that the story is best enjoyed by those who already know the characters and appreciate the situations they are put in.
That said, to put it simply: this is one of the best modern stories of the X-Men. I recommend you pick up previous issues to catch up on the action (a LOT has happened, from secondary mutations to super-sentinels to changes with Beast to the White Queen joining the good guys). It's a good idea to get this story along with the rest as the story-telling is best when view with the "big picture" - the fun comes with the build-up and anticipation.
The story is a grand epic written by Grant Morrison of JLA and Invisibles fame and with art by the very talented (although somewhat unreliable) Frank Quietly. Their run on "New X-Men" (with breaks from Quietly on regular occasion, especially as of late) has been heralded by fans and critics alike, as the New X-Men don a slightly renovated attitude and style.
Dramatic, action-packed, and with plenty of interesting twists, "E is for Extinction" brings great writing and great art together to produce an incredibly enjoyable story. Professor Charles Xavier has a twin sister who's bent on - what else - the destruction of mutantkind. Journey from the recesses of Professor X's mind to the depths of space with the Shi'iar kingdom on an adventure that is definitive Grant Morrison - holds no punches.
I'll leave it at that, as I don't want to give away too much of your fun.
"To me, my X-Men."

I have to say that this collection of stories is better than most of the series I have seen of late. Especially the first one with the explosion and destruction of many mutant citizens. The characters seem to be fresher and more realistic. It was like reading the story boards for the next X-Men feature film.
Too bad Morrison and Quitely won't have a long term run on this title. Remember Curt Swan's art on Superman and how long he stayed with the title? X-Men needs these guys on the title for at least five years to revive them to new heights again.

It's like the old magic with Lee and Jack Kirby have returned again! I should add that Clearmont and Byrne revived the title again in the late seventies...and don't forget artist Dave Cockrum......although Morrison and Quitely have a style all their own; they have been reborn with a new vision of substance and ol' Marvel Magic.