Villacorta & Villacorta is the standard b&w reference on the Dresden codex, produced in 1930. Many, many papers and books use this edition because it reproduces well in b&w. What was red in the original is shown with outlines, what was black is shown solid. While many people work off 6th generation photocopies of this book, this edition is the only source I know of that is a clean first generation print. The commentary is in Spanish and based off the work of Ernst Förstemann more than 30 years before (The original is also reprinted by Aegean Park Press), but the drawings are the reason to buy the book.

The Dresden Codex is a masterpiece of Maya art and astronomy. This book is a reproduction using line drawings of Ernst Förstermann's chromolithographic reproductions of the original, as well as a commentary in Spanish of the contents (heavily lifted from Förstermann's commentary, also published in English by Aegean Park Press). Other copies of the Dresden are expensive and difficult to find as they are mostly out of print and/or from extremely small presses (such as a recent color copy of Försterman from a press in Guatemala). The line drawings presented here are clean, and reproduce well, whereas color reproductions of Dresden have to contend with the reduction of color to black and white when publishing papers. Many of the published papers I have seen include sixth generation photocopies of Villacorta. This reproduction is a much nicer place to start.

If you are studying the Maya, a copy of Dresden is necessary to have on your shelf.

The American Express Travel Guide of Amsterdam (1992), written by Derek Blythe, has been re-written by Carol Winkelman and re-published as Travel&Leisure: Amsterdam (1997). Travel&Leisure magazine, in conjunction with Macmillan Travel, designed this new version of the book for a larger audience that includes young travelers, budget travelers, babyboomer travelers, discriminating travelers, and business travelers. The new book is a combination of traditional and offbeat travel guide, helping the reader find his/her way to hotels, restaurants, museums, and historical sites while also taking him/her "inside" Amsterdam to experience its cafe culture, lively arts scene, and famous nightlife. The new book, like The American Express Guide, includes an excursion to Rotterdam that leads the reader from the historic to the ultramodern.

Dresden's Historisches Museum holds one of three great world collections of armor, the other two being in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna and the Real Ameria, Madrid. Schobel and Karpinski are to be highly congratulated for this fine work that contains stunning full-page color plates plus black-and-white photos with superlative tonal gradations, a total of 180 illustrations. Each chapter is followed by generously annotated notes and precise historical identifications of pieces collected between the 16th and 18th centuries and that belonged to great European families. Recommended for any library by reason of sheer artistic exhuberance, or for the true connoisseur and collector of arms and armor.

Dr. Stockigt is probably one of the best English speaking authorities on JD Zelenka. She did a fine job of tracking down the life of a man who was a Catholic outsider in the Lutheran world of Saxony. The challenge is great because of damage wrought by the fires set in Dresden by the Austrians and Prussians in the seige of 1760 and then the damage wrought by the holocaust in 1945 and then possible Soviet pilfery of the Dresden archives. Whole parts of the Zelenka catalogue are missing and some manucripts are missing sections.

Zelenka was not cooperative with historians. He left no portrait and had no children or close students to whom he could have confided his secrets. He kept no known personal diary. Zelenka is not recorded as having married. Leaving so little behind makes the task of defining the man difficult.

Dr. Stockigt weaves together a picture of life as a Bohemian child learning music, one which Zelenka must have lived. She shows the world of Zelenka as he matured, from Count Sporck's orchestra to the Dresden hopfkappel. She shows the Byzantine politics of the Dresden Court, the tensions between the Catholics who are tolerated for political reasons and the Lutheran majority who resent "Papist" influences in the Court. We learn of the thread of the Jesuits throughout Zelenka's life, from his education at the Klementium to his life at the Dresden Court. The Jesuits, the feared agents of the counter-Reformation, are to be seen at every turn in Zelenka's adult life.

She chronicles Zelenka's triumphs, his downfall at the hands of Hasse and his eventual death and then his legacy as a composer.

Dr. Stockigt focuses closely on Zelenka's music, offering analyses of themes, technical points and performance practices. We learn that the Dresden Catholic Chapel had castrati, who went on "strike". Dr. Stockigt reveals that Zelenka's patroness, the Empress Maria Josepha, protected him and we are shown his loyalty and devotion in return. We learn of her critical role in preserving his musical legacy and in how Zelenka crafted for her fine works of devotion.

We are gratified to know that many of the best composers of the time esteemed and valued Zelenka's music - even Lutherans who had no great love of Catholics in general and Jesuit trained Catholics in particular. This does not exclude J.S. Bach, with whom Zelenka collaborated on Masses and compositional practices at the Dresden Court. We discover that Zelenka's help was critical to the first performance of Bach's mass in b minor. We are also told of the fellowship and friendship between Zelenka and Johann Georg Pisendel, much admired violinist. We also learn the G.P. Telemann, one of the greatest composers of his day, attempted to publish Zelenka's "Responsora" at risk to himself.

Dr Stockigt shows the "afterlife" of Zelenka, from his relative neglect after death, to his legacy during the years preceding the Dresden holocaust, to his hesitant but sure "renaissance" today. It is obvious at every turn that Dr. Stockigt is fascinated with the man, loves his music and shares both with the reader.

This book reveals a long gone world, warts and all, to those who value the music of those times. This book also attempts to show, as best as can be done, the man behind the compositions.

Gene Herron

Enhanced with 30 color and 17 b/w illustrations, A Royal Menagerie is a superbly presented survey of extraordinary 18th-century porcelain animals from Dresden in all its grandeur. The pieces were created between 1730 and 1735 at the Saxon royal porcelain manufactory in Meissen, near Dresden, were commissioned by Friedrich August I, Elector of Saxony. Samuel Wittwer draws upon his many years of experience and expertise as curator of the ceramics collections at the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation, and the archives of the Royal Porcelain Manufactory, Berlin in writing an informative and insightful text. Published to accompany an exhibition at the Getty Museum which will run until January 2002, A Royal Menagerie is highly recommended for students and collectors of 18th century porcelain.

I have been reading Jim Butcher's Dresden File series from the first, and the series just keeps getting better. It has been a pleasure watching Harry Dresden grow as a character, and the author grow as a craftsman.
Things are heating up in Harry Dresden's Chicago. The White Council is in town, and Harry is in trouble...The Vampire Reds are after Harry over a spot of arson last season, and Harry is in trouble...Someone has taken out a contract hit on Harry, (I think he's in trouble...) And now the two courts of Faerie are about to go to war, and Harry is the only one who can stop them. With the help of some old friends (Murphy, the Alphas, Toot-toot), some new friends, and some surprising sources, Harry just might survive this one.

The book is well written, with a well planned plot line. Mr. Butcher is an excellent story teller with a keen eye for detail, and a good feel for human (?) nature.

If you are looking for a good read, go to the book store, buy "Storm Front", "Fool Moon", "Grave Peril", and "Summer Knight", lock the doors, put the answer machine on, and have yourself a wonderful little weekend!

Looking forward to the next one!

Can Butcher do no wrong? The man has a real sense of imagination, wonder a fine way of molding a modern hero.

A brief overview. This is the fourth book in the Harry Dresden Files, by newcomer Jim Butcher. Harry Dresden is Chicago's only openly practicing wizard. A member of the White Council, a governing body for wizards, he is down on his luck after his girlfriend Susan gets turned to a vampire in the previous novel. Still searching for a cure he has alienated everyone who cares about him, while still trying to dodge hitman hireed by vampires, and trying to keep out of the way of Morgan a warder for the White Council bent on seeing him pay for past deeds.

In order to truly appreciate this novel you must read the first three. In this novel we see the return of some great characters from the first three novels.

Butcher not only continues to shine more light on the modern day wizard (he introduces the White Council and several of it's key members in the first 4 chapters alone), but he dives into the realms of fairie, with his usual flare.

The novel goes from the political infighting of the White Council, to the potentially earth shattering intrigues of the Courts of Fae and a war that cannot afford to be won or lost by either side.

This is the best out of all the books. Well plotted and well written. I cannot wait to read the next one.

I have been reading Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files" since the first book, and this is the best yet. It has been a real pleasure watching Harry Dresden develop as a character, and the author develop as a craftsman.
Things are heating up in Harry Dresden's Chicago. The White council is in town, and Harry is in trouble. The Vampire Reds are gunning for Harry, over a spot of arson last season. There is a rampant ghoul-cum hit man out there lurking, and Harry isn't completly sure who did the hiring. To top it all off, the courts of the fey are about to go to war, and it looks like Harry is the only one that can put a stop to it.
Harry just may survive this one , with a little help from his friends (the Alphas, Toot, Murphy) and some unexpected help from a few surprise sources.
I would highly reccomend this book!
To anyone looking for a terrific new series - Pick up a copy of "Storm Front", "Fool Moon", "Grave Peril", and "Summer Knight". Lock the doors, turn on the answer machine and have yourself a merry little weekend.
Congrats to the author on another great read. I just wish I didn't have to wait another year for the next one.

This is the standard text and facsimile on the Dresden. Thompson was one of the greatest experts on the Maya and for the time, did an excellent job. However as we can now read the glyphs with greater reliability, some of the interpretations are out of date. This should be part of any serious student of Maya Codices, but reference should be made to other more up-to-date titles. Although this is out of print, The Fondo de Cultura Economica (FCE) is due to re-publish soon an updated version with a new commentary.

This commentary is required reading for any student of the Maya codices. It was the best available resource at the time of publication. Even the ideas that are out of fashion by present thinking are worth considering. The facsimile is a full-color reproduction, based off the Förstemann edition, but re-colored by Thompson.

It's official! Jim Butcher has a hit series on his hands. Fool Moon, the much anticipated second book in the Dresden Files series, does more than live up to fans' expectations: It exceeds them. This book rocks, fulfilling the lofty precedent set in Storm Front for fast paced action, witty dialogue, a riveting plotline, compelling characters and, most of all, it's endearing protagonist: Harry Dresden, a wisecracking gumshoe wizard with a heart of gold and just enough of a dark side to keep things real.

Fool Moon returns to the alternate-reality version of modern day Chicago as introduced in book one, an unsettling yet exciting world of both everyday familiarity and film-noir style fantasy where chaos results when paranormal forces interact with a mostly disbelieving humanity. It's this disbelief that keeps business in a slump for Harry, the windy city's only professional wizard. Thankfully Lt. Karrin Murphy, head of the Chicago Police's Special Investigations unit, has experienced enough weirdness on Chi Town's mean streets to know that the paranormal threat is very real. Determined to save lives at all costs and faced with having to solve crimes that go beyond the scope of forensic science, Murphy usually turns to Harry for help. But in Fool Moon Harry discovers that Murphy is forced to risk her badge to bring him in on a murder investigation after an editorial in a local paper criticizes her use of public funds to hire a "charlatan psychic" and Internal Affairs begins probing into her suspected connection to the Chicago Mob through her past involvement with Harry.

Time is running out. Evidence found following a series of gruesome murders leads Harry to believe that a pack of werewolves is on the rampage in the city and with only a few nights of bright moonlight left, the wizard is in a race against the clock to put an end to the slaughter or lose the trail until the next full moon.

Fool Moon is solid entertainment that leaves readers with that all-too-rare sense of deep satisfaction that comes from getting your moneys worth. New readers will discover the thrill of riding shotgun with Harry and returning fans will enjoy the hints scattered throughout the novel that unearth more of Harry's rebel past, in particular a closer look at the events that lead to the Doom of Damocles, a form of probation placed on him by the White Council who oversee the ethical use of magic in the world of the mundane.

I look forward with great anticipation to the next book in the series, and to watching Jim Butcher become a household name in fantasy fiction.

The highest compliment I can give a book is its characters become real to me. Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden now lives with my other literary friends who have reached this status. Harry Dresden is an often misunderstood wizard. His heart is in the right place but people tend to misjudge him. Take Karrin Murphy, Director of Special Investigations for the Chicago Police Department. When a case comes across her desk that is supernatural in origin, Harry is her man. Unfortunately, she doesn't trust Harry because sometimes he isn't forthcoming with all the information she needs to solve the crime. She doesn't know Harry has to answer to the White Council, a "policeman" for those with supernatural ability and it's against the rules to let common mortals know about them. It doesn't help that most people don't believe in the supernatural and think Harry is a scam artist or worse. When corpses begin turning up with shredded and chewed up body parts, she has no choice but to turn to Harry again. It doesn't take Harry long to figure out a werewolf is killing people. Harry really wants to help out and stop the killings but roadblocks hamper his investigation at every turn. Throw in mobsters, being arrested, beat up, chased, confrontations with hungry werewolves, mad FBI agents,and nearly getting killed several times, and you have a glimpse of what Harry's life has turned into. All in all, a very good read and I recommend it very highly.

This is turning into a very enjoyable series. Harry Dresden, wizard and main charcter of this novel is very well written and likeable. He's fallible and has his limits, but he's also not someone you'd want to cross the wrong way lightly.

This book is about a werewolf "invasion" of Chicago. People start dying messily on the full moon and it doesn't take long for it to click with Harry and Detective Murphy from the Special Unit of the Police that "werwolves" are the most likely culpret. However if you are the police, no matter how messy it is that's not really the sort of conculsion you can come out with publicly. And besides, there are more than one type of werewolf and silver doesn't always do the job of stopping them.

This is more violent than the first book, but you also get some more insights into Harry's past and Harry also realises that he has been taking the wrong approch to some things in his present.

If it keeps up it's current quality, this is a series I intend to an eye out for.

Jim Butcher definitely raises the bar with "Grave Peril," the third installment of "The Dresden Files." I gave this one four stars as a comparison to books of the genre, not all books.

The basic premise has Harry running around Chicago trying to find out why so many ghosts and spooks have breached the barrier between our world and that of the 'Nevernever' where all kinds of creatures reside. The story ties in a previous case involving a sorceror, as well as an extended sequence at the vampire's masquerade ball. During the course of the adventure, those close to Harry are either possessed or attacked in some way by a spirit dubbed 'The Nightmare' and even Harry succumbs at one point.

What I like about this series is the mixture of horror, mystery and dark comedy. The plots have improved with each book, although they always seem to be personal involving Harry in some way. I like his descriptions of the various entities, and the rules that bind them. Harry gets a new ally in Michael Carpenter, a sort of holy knight with a special sword, although no explanation is given how these two got together. Harry's love interest, Susan, also has a strong role. Murphy has a couple key scenes, but she's out of the way much of the book. There are also various shadow characters such as Thomas the vampire, Lydia with Cassandra's Tears, Justine the victim, Lea the fairie 'sidhe' godmother of Harry, and enemies like the evil Kravos, and vampire siblings Kyle and Kelly. Bianca is both the sexiest and foulest vampire one will ever meet.

Since the narration is told from Harry's point of view, we never get a lot of development of the other characters, but their outward emotions are clear, even if one never quite knows what trick they might pull next. Harry, on the other hand, is developing into a balanced character, with admirable traits and flaws like anyone. He is full of emotion, and tries to do what's right, but he recognizes his own shadow side.

As usual, the sensual descriptions of magic are interesting, and the extended action at the vampire party is a page-turner. Butcher paints the characters into a corner time and again, and manages to let them figure interesting ways out of their predicaments. Harry not only uses magic, but also his brain and body.

In the end, their is both a sense of finality and continuity, as the plot is resolved, but the story of Harry and his friend's (and enemies) lives will figure into future tales.

Grave Peril is a much darker book than either Storm Front or Fool Moon. This book has a sense of hopelessness to it that neither of the others contained, even in their darker moments. Read with caution, and read slowly. The bad guys are bigger, badder, and there are certainly more of them. The problems start even before page one, and never let up, or give room for breathing or for Harry's usual wisecracks.

Michael is a welcome character addition, especially when the only other returning male character, Carmichael, was killed in Fool Moon. Murphy is noticeable by her absence, but I guess there is only room for 1 woman in Harry Dresden's life, as Susan, the reporter for the Arcane and Harry's love interest is more prevalent in Grave Peril.

This is a good read, but I can't help hoping that the 4th book in the series gives Harry a little bit of a break from the nonstop terror and evil.

Harry Dresden, Jim Butcher's wise-cracking wizard gumshoe returns in this gripping adventure! This time Harry finds himself a reluctant ghostbuster who must discover who have stirred up the ghosts of the spirit world who are going on a terror spree in Chicago.Harry's adventures will take from escaping from seductive but manipulative fairy godmother who seeks to enslave him, to battle blood-thirsty vampires and finally to a terrifying ghost of a demon he has slain!Harry Dresden series is entertaining blend of magic mystery, mirth and mayhem as you watch Harry get himself into and of of trouble and who's sense of honor is written in stone.The characters again come alive in this series like Harry's friend,michael a real knight who juggles saving the world with his responsiblities of his family.
Bianca, the sinister head of the vampires in town and her equally menacing vampire hench people:Kyle and Kelly. Susan Rodriguez, Harry's on again off again reporter girlfriend. I love this series and you will to. So if you want excitement.Who you gonna call? Harry Dresden of course!

"Storm Front" by Jim Butcher is the first book in a promising new series that already has me hooked. Butcher has come up with a fun and entertaining idea, and has crafted likable characters that readers can root for. Harry Dresden is a wonderful creation and I look forward to many more adventures with him.

"Storm Front" introduces Harry Dresden, the only wizard in the Chicago phone book, who is currently having trouble making ends meet. You'd think that being the only "out" wizard in the country would mean Harry was in demand, but unfortunately, people in the 21st century would rather pretend those unsettling things that science can't explain aren't really there. Then Harry gets what he believes to be a stroke of luck - a woman whose husband has disappeared wants to hire Harry to find him AND his friend Lieutenant Karrin Murphy with Special Investigations in the Chicago PD calls Harry in to consult on a murder case. Two paying jobs in one day has Harry thinking that things are looking up, but in truth, Harry's trouble is only just beginning.

The murder scene Murphy shows to Harry has him feeling distinctly nervous. Someone very powerful has used Black Magic to murder two people in a violent and horrifying way, and the only way Harry can help Murphy is to figure out the spell the killer used. Not a good idea when Harry is already under the Doom of Damocles, a kind of magic probation, from the all-powerful White Council, whose job it is to ensure that those who abuse magic are dealt with swiftly and permanently. Morgan, the White Council representative monitoring Harry, would just love to nail him for messing with Black Magic.

And Morgan and the White Council aren't Harry's only problem. Gentleman Johnny Marcone, Chicago's top mob boss, warns Harry to keep his nose out of this case, which of course Harry can't do. Especially when he somehow becomes the top suspect in these Black Magic murders. Now Harry has to get to work fast and find the real wizard who is committing these atrocities, otherwise, Harry's not going to live to see another week!

Butcher crafts an original and compelling mystery, and readers will become utterly wrapped up in Harry's dilemma. In the course of his investigation, Harry runs into all kinds of supernatural beasties, including faeries, demons, vampires, and giant scorpions! Add in Harry's hilarious assistant, Bob, an air spirit with an overactive libido who lives in a human skull and just a dash of romance and you have the recipe for a wonderful and exciting read.

"Storm Front" is an amazingly good book considering that it is Jim Butcher's first. I became an instant fan of Butcher while reading this book, and intend to read the rest of the series very soon. "Storm Front" contains a suspenseful and well-written mystery, but at the same time, Harry Dresden has a wonderful self-depreciating sense of humour that got quite a few chuckles out of me. If you enjoy mysteries or fantasy writing of any kind, give "Storm Front" a try, you'll like it a lot!

Finally, I've found myself another series to covet that contains some of my favorite things: magic, fairies, vampires, a likeable hero and just the right mix of humor, action and gore!

Harry Dresden's like a lot of us. He struggles to pay his rent, his love life bites, he lives with a cat and his wisecracking attitude often lands him trouble. Oh, and he just happens to be a wizard and shares his basement with a talking and meddlesome skull named Bob.

Harry makes his living doing things like helping the general public find their keys and/or lost spouses and also works with the local police department on their "weird" cases. Just when things are looking really bleak money-wise Harry's business starts to pick up in a big way. He's asked to investigate a gruesome double homicide on the same day that he receives a call from a woman willing to him pay big bucks to locate her husband.

During Harry's investigation he calls in help from a cool little fairy named Toot-toot and draws the attention of the White Council - a group who exist to ensure that magic is not misused. Years earlier Harry disobeyed one of their laws and had the "Doom of Damocles" placed upon him and if he is caught using black magic again, no matter how dire the situation, he will be put to death. And, as if all that weren't nerve-wracking enough, Harry has also ticked off a mob boss and a vampiress!

This is a fast-paced, action packed read that I didn't just couldn't put down because Harry is such a likable guy. He's a true good guy who you really want to see win. His terrific sense of humor remains intact whether he's facing down a bloodsucking demon or going through one of life's most humiliating (and extremely humorous) dates. Harry's next adventure can't come too soon for me!

Always a willing participant in the mystery with a paranormal twist, I picked up "Storm Front" on the advice of a friend with similar obsessive paranormal compulsions, and dug right in.

Jim Butcher's wizard sleuth, Harry Dresden, is a refreshing change from the usual oversombre, dark and deadly sort one finds in most paranormal mysteries. For one, Harry has a rather self-defeating chivalrous attitude about women, and a seriously horrible track record with dating. His relationship with the typical "behind the scenes wizard council" is very strained: in fact, he's on a sort of deadly probation for some very questionable acts in his past. He's the only "out" wizard in Chicago, and usually, he's broke.

"Storm Front" puts Harry in the middle of a series of truly grotesque sorcerous murders. The police want his help (but the wizard's council refuses to allow an "open information" policy with nonwizards), the mafia want him to walk away (and they're willing to push the issue), there's a demon after him, the wizard's council have someone making sure he doesn't do anything wrong - and that someone has a very big sword, and someone is trafficking a drug that is incredibly addictive, and opens up the "third eye" in those taking it.

The secondary characters are a bit light on depth, but likely this can only improve with the rest of the series, and this is often the case in first books.

Harry is an ejoyable hero to read, tends to have a very forward approach to the mysteries and complications, and has a sharp wit that tends to leave a smirk on your face. His terrible luck with machines (a side effect of being a magical person), his awful luck with women, and his rather unique approach to magical information storage and retrieval (an oversexed talking air spirit trapped in the form of a skull) are sure to keep you reading.

If you're a fan of Anita Blake, then there's a chance you'll enjoy Harry Dresden. Harry is funnier, much more tame, and though the crimes strike a similar chord, the novel in its entirety is much more light-hearted than any of the Blake bloodbaths. As far as mysteries with a twist go, I'd grab "Storm Front" in a heartbeat. You'll be glad you did.

I, for one, picked up "Fool Moon," the next in the series, the very next day.

'Nathan