I agree with the reviewer who pointed out that Bryan Adams' own autobiography is surprisingly lacking in the story department. Adams gives up very little of himself in quality and quantity. Anybody who bought Sorelle Saidman's (painlessly) detailed unauthorized biography is far ahead of the game, unless they prefer large pictures to words.

It's cool for any die hard fan but most of the info is rehashed and if you've read the bio by Sorelle Saidman you've already seen most of what's in here. The pictures are the selling point. BA and his dog. BA singing & rocking in the rain! A really cute feature is the cute little journal that's included. It traces the trip to Vietnam. Overall this is a really good book for pictures but as for the info, you can read most of that in a newspaper interview.

This beautiful book stuffed with Badman-pictures really is a must for every Badfan on this earth. With over a hundred pictures in it, it shows Bryan Adams in a lot of different positions. Sleeping in an airplane, playing with dogs, standing on top of a rock in the desert of Utah and, of course, on stage. If not for the photographs, you should buy this book for the great comments on the pictures, written by Adams himself. Can you sing along to Vanishing, consists your CD-collection mostly of Adams-albums, do you get angry about everyone who spells Bryan with an 'i', or are you in any other way a die-hard, I would say: BUY THIS BOOK!

In "The Curse of Treasure Island" Francis Bryan- whoever that may be- has crafted a sequel certain to please hordes of Stevenson fans, and infuriate just as many more. Some will appreciate the opportunity to sail once again with such favorite characters as Jim Hawkins, Ben Gunn, and Long John Silver, while others (and I must include myself in this category) will find the revival of these classic characters almost sacrilegious.

In novels such as this, an author will customarily throw in everything up to, and sometimes including, the kitchen sink, to titillate fans of the original work. "Bryan" proves no exception...

Now a young adult, former treasure hunter Jim Hawkins manages the Admiral Benbow Inn following his renovation of the former dive. However, the twenty-one years old Jim spends a lot of time boasting about his island adventures over a drink or two. Grace Richardson hears about the brave Jim's incredible escapades with pirates on the high seas and Treasure Island. She, accompanied by her son, beseeches Jim to find the pirate Joseph Tait, whose last known residence is Treasure Island.

Jim rejects her plea, but that fails to stop menacing thugs from harassing her and him forcing the retired adventurer back into the action hero role. This time Jim kills a noble, and is forced to flee for his life when the law accuses him of murder. Accompanied by Grace and her preadolescent son, they begin a trek that will take Jim back to the "accursed island" that he last stepped on a decade ago in search of the meanest of Long John Silver's former associates.

THE CURSE OF TREASURE ISLAND is fast-paced and loaded with action, starring a mature Jim as a young adult whose potential relationship with Grace adds a romantic flavor to the adventure. The story line is very exciting, but the flaw remains that men risk their lives, but none know why as Grace keeps secrets that everyone seems to allow her to do while they blithely venture to death or near death. Still Francis Bryan furbishes a strong tale that pays homage to the grandmaster Robert Louis Stevenson while setting the seafaring further adventures of Jim and company.

Harriet Klausner

I imagine Robert Louis Stevenson would approve of this exciting tale. It measures up well to the original novel in all aspects. In fact, I found myself enjoying "The Curse..." more than the original. As a boy I recall wishing for Jim Hawkins' courage and nobility of spirit. And now, two decades after I first read "Treasure Island," I find myself thinking these same thoughts.

Digital Wizardry is not a tutorial nor a "How to" book but a "How I did It" book describing the author's step-by-step creation of a selection of complex Photoshop images from the inception of an idea to finished commercial product. This book is geared for the accomplished professional, preferably in the advertising field. However, one must be fully competent in the use of advanced Photoshop skills to utilize the described techniques. For that target audience this book could warrant 4 stars (I don't qualify to judge). For a beginner, its usefulness is limited.

Good production quality and nice photos but it should be clearly marketed to an advanced audience.

This is not a "how to" book in any sense, but it can provide inspiration when the "visual arts muse" has abandoned you. I keep this book around for those moments when I am looking for ideas, or when I just can't figure out how to create a certain effect that I can see perfectly in my mind. The broad overviews of what it took to create the different images will drive beginners nuts, but will provide more experienced Photoshop users with enough information to charge "gaily forward" into their own creative endeavors!

Reading Bryan Allen's step-by-step instructions on how he combines photography and computer graphics is like watching a magician explain how a complex trick is performed. The book is facinating reading, and Allen is indeed a genius at how he formulates his ideas and executes his plans to create amazing images. This book is a must for anyone in the photography/imaging field.

I think Sharon Bryan's use of poetic device is simply stunning. If only her poems could take on physical form, take flights of fancy as they do on the page. If only her poems could become her, because unfortuneately(sic) people, she stinks in person. One does not come into contact with many people in one's life that one would consider absolutely odious. I am shamed to say that in this case, I would rather have full frontal lobotomy than sit through another class with Sharon Bryan. I feel, as do my colleagues, that we are all now dumber because of our exposure to this tactless, heartless, objectifying frankenstein of so-called modern letters. I rue the day I saw her.

Sharon Bryan has a superb feel for words and a distinct original way of looking at things. All of the poems here are worth reading, and many of them are brilliant.

I usually take particular interest in the title poem of a collection. Sometimes it completely encapsulates the poet's point of view--sometimes it ties together several loose themes within the book. At eighteen lines (narrow lines at that) "Flying Blind" is one of the shortest poems in the book. It is short and tight, with monosyllabic words dominating the poem Each word like an attention getting clap--especially in the first line, "We can't quite see". The harsh vowel sounds give power and directness. Larger words come later in the poem as the ideas become more complex and abstract in lines such as "to serenade the universe". "Flying Blind" explains that we know the world and the universe only through our words, and that as we "fly" through it all we only really have our language to guide us. The voice of the narrator is speaking with the authority of a director of a production, speaking from offstage to explain the principle idea behind the scene. With the exception of "Frankly", "Trimmings" and "What Biology is all About" it is hard to say exactly where the narrator is in this collection of poems. In fact, it is almost like a "Where's Waldo" book--she is usually in the position of one in a crowd, rarely referring to herself as an individual. It feels as though she is one of us (sometimes speaking for us) referring to "we" "us" and "our" as a collective humanity, and when "you" is used, it refers to all of us, as though we are being addressed by this Poet/Teacher conglomerate who is sharing wisdom. An example of this conglomerate voice is in the poem "Foreseeing". The audience is not inclusive of the narrator, although she is present in the form of voice. While there is no "I" in this poem, there is a sort of omniscient "eye", one that is not present in all of the poems, but in a few (such a as in "Beholden", "Bemused", "Minutiae" and "Theory". In these poems there is "you". Her omniscient voice in "Foreseeing" has a strange sense of personal knowledge. The voice is one of experience, one that is intimate with age. The poem made me think of writing on a wall, perhaps carved into marble--speaking a truth to us amongst the statues--perhaps like proverbs deemed absolute and universal. What does "we" and "us" do? As I was reading these poems I found myself buying into the ideas presented, and I was able to relate to the narrator in a strangely personal (strange because she seems so impersonal) way. I found myself thinking "Oh, she's one of us", sparing me from a large condescending tone explaining how the world works(like the Wizard of Oz). I feel as though I am on Sharon's team with all the "we" togetherness, as though she is the woman sitting next to me who happened to speak for us all. I have to wonder what her purpose for distancing herself from her poetry is-- and what purpose that serves for her in the process. I wonder if she feels a distance between herself and her poems, or perhaps a fear of intimacy with her inner self (it could also be she was simply trying to be different). Her focus is largely outward, with a leaning for the appreciation of words themselves--as if the words actively shape her reality rather than words describing her reality. She seems to have fun with it, as seen in the poems paying tribute to prefixes and suffixes (i.e. "Be-" and "-Esque"), coming to a point with the cliché ridden rhythmical poem "Sweater Weather: A Love Song to Language". I did not like the poem all that much, on the surface it is unoriginal and against the norms of avoiding clichés in poetry. However, I commend her for taking a risk with this poem. There is a recognized power behind clichés, and this poem is a bunch of snippets of emotion delicately arranged. The fact that the poems are alphabetically arranged further demonstrates her priorities on letters and language. While most poets tediously arrange their collections based on emotion, topic, and general feel, Sharon Bryan has gone even more basic-- the alphabet. The alphabet being the roots of all written and spoken words, without which there would be no emotional conveyance--no transference of thoughts and ideas through speech, writing, or poetry. Sharon Bryan's distance from her work makes a point--that point being the importance of language. Is it a coincidence that that is also the point of the title poem? I don't think so. I highly reccomend this collection.

I am a white belt and still thought this book was essentially useless. I should have gotten one of the slightly more expensive, in-depth books I believe.

Tae Kwon Do Basics (formerly released as Korean Karate for Kids) is a very good book for beginners. It's richly illustrated with clear photos and line drawings showing each step of each move. Even better, the illustrations are accompanied by clear text descriptions of each move. The chapters cover stances, exercises and stretches, some kicks and punches, blocks, a few basic forms (katas), sparring techniques, and self-defense moves. The charm of this book is its simplicity and clarity. (Plus, it's very inexpensive -- always a good thing!) I highly recommend this to anyone considering taking American Karate or Tae Kwon Do, as well as parents of children taking martial arts.

(Keith Yates wrote Tae Kwon Do Basics as a 6th degree black belt. He's now a 10th degree black belt.)

This incredible book shows you the basic stuff about the most popular and widespread martial art in the world. It goes over the history of the art very well. You get to see the pictures of all the fantastic moves like the kicks, punches, etc. ITS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!

The book also contains all the defensive tactics you'll ever need to thwart your attacker's strikes, kicks, chokes, and grabs.All the moves are broken down to its most easily learned form.

There is a chapter in the book devoted to self-defense techniques that are real GOOD. This chapter alone is worth the price of the entire book. After reading this book, you will find out why people around the world choose to learn Tae Kwon Do instead of any other martial art. This book only teaches you about he simple fighting techniques that can be mastered very easily. There are no complicated moves at all.

If you want to defend yourself good, then get this book.

Okay Wind Waker is a fun game and doesn't really need a guide so I got this for the Ocarine of Time guide because being the best Zelda game ever Ocarina can stil make you want to pull your hair out sometimes. The guide for Ocarina have [bad] maps and doesn't give you any info on how to find heart pieces or anything it's just a waist of 12 pages, yup it's that small 12 pages. Don't waste the money if you want Ocarina hints, and if you don't mind story spoilers for Wind Waker then go for it.

I'll agree with everyone at this is a fantastic, through guide. Everything you need to know is easy to find, and you can learn EVERYTHING about the game... and there in is the problem. The Prima Guide not only serves as a walk through but GIVES AWAY all the story and the ending!!! What's the point of even playing the game when you already know the WHOLE story and outcome? Prima's been publishing for YEARS, they SHOULD know better.

If you don't care about spoilers, get this guide. If you want to play the game through and be able to progress though the story w/o having it ruined for you, look else where.

First of all, let me remind you all of why you SHOULD be buying a guide if you ever get one. You get a guide to a game as a reference, NOT as a companion these days. If a guide has spoilers and you read them that's your own fault, no one said you had to read it. Besides every guide I've ever read has a few spoilers, that's why you get the guide for its secrets and anything you missed rather than your first time through the game.

Anyway, the guide is nice and all. Good maps and a great in-depth thorough walkthrough that guides you through the game from start to finish. My only major gripe is that the Ocarina of Time section of this guide is terrible. There are only about 10 or so pages to it and it isn't even that helpful. They don't tell you about Ocarina of time at all. It looks like a walkthrough I'd find in a normal gaming magazine. It would be much better if you were to just go out and buy an Ocarina of Time guide rather than getting this one.

There are a few spoilers but I avoided reading them as I got this guide specifically for the puzzles in the game I couldn't figure out on my own. This guide was able to get me through the puzzles that I coudldn't do very easily. While there are spoilers and people don't like that, I honestly don't mind. If I had read a spoiler it was because I read it. Besides after Prima's past guides everyone should know that they have spoilers all through their guides now.

Sure you could get this guide and waste lotsa money, but why would you? Super Smash Brothers Melee is a game that doesn't require the use of "Strategy" guides because there is no basic strategy to give. Sure you could get it for all the events and unlock the secret characters, but again, to aquire most of the secret characters and such, no strategy is needed for it. Also, there is no reason to teach you and of the combos they show in the guide for each character, it just isn't neccessary. I wouldn't want to go out and buy this guide for a game where getting the secrets and unlocking everything is so simple and easy. It's not exactly what you need, considering SSBM isn't your Tekken like fighting game here.

This book is very good quality. I used it to help me beat the game. I remember Event Match 50 and Event Match 51. I used DK for Event 50 and Jigglypuff for Event 51!!!!!!

I would like to see a Super Mario Cart 64 book.

Really a silly little book with much psychobabble and religious pedantry

This book is an innovative and provocative addition to modern literature. The format is entirely creative. I am sure that not many have tried to write an afterword for a book that doesn't exist. Oddly, this approach resembles a "behind the music" or "storytellers" format, and is one that gives us a feeling that we are being let in on the best secrets of an alledgedly succesful novel. The metafictive approach will be of special interest to writers. I also found the commentary on deleted or excluded scenes to be a great tongue-in-cheek twist. As far as the religious aspects are concerned, this book takes a long hard look at how our society would deal with a messiah. Bryan does well to anticipate both the thoughts of sceptics and believers, while really never casting his own hat into the ring on either side. I read this after reading "The Life of Pi" and "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff". I couldn't have asked for a more fitting conclusion to this great summer reading trifecta.

This book is an afterword to an imaginary book called The Deity Next Door. It's really a meditation on Christology and writing a book. If that sounds weird, it isn't. Bryan's writing is witty and clever, and very thoughtful. Who knew theology could be so much fun!?

Personally, I think this was a big mistake on WW's part. While I like the Akashic Brotherhood and many other things, to make such a big difference between (for example) the Western Technocracy and the Asian Zaibatsu is unnecessary. A great story could have been told with the Asian Technocracy trying to gain a foothold in the established land of tradition that is China and Japan, but instead that was all thrown away in light of "Everything in Asia is cooler." For the other games, it made sense, but for this one, it was baffling.

I bought this book thinking that it would be great, I have the book "Kindred of the East" and I love it, my friends and I really love this game and when I saw the title of this book I thoght "Great, Mage in the East, not only the Akashic Brotherhood exists in this game, so I bought it. I have to say that it is really interesting, but some parts are really boring and it could be a bit more complete.

I was expecting to enjoy Dragons of the East as soon as I picked it up; in my opinion, the only thing the Mage line had done with the far east, to that point, was lousy (The Akashic Brotherhood Tradition book). Anyhow! I was thrilled with this book! I wanted in-depth material on cultures, magickal styles, and factions, and it DELIVERS. The far east now consists of more than a couple of Shaolin temples. THANK YOU!

After reading Guide to the Technocracy and being totally impressed, I expected nothing less for the Guide to the Traditions. Instead of a smooth flowing book with well-organized facts about the Traditions, I got a big book filled with a ton of unnecessary details. It was true that the information was in the book, but one has to wade through a tidal wave of in-character fiction to get to them.

The book did have some useful information, if you're patient enough to get to them. The detailed history of the Traditions was a fascinating read but nothing new. Most of the main points were in the core book and if you've read all the Tradition books, you've heard it all before from 9 different points of view. Another good thing about the book was that it stressed the need for the Traditions to adapt to the modern era and described a handful of cliques that did just that. One of the best sections in the book was the section on paradigms. It will really help new players grasp the most important concept for a mage.

In terms of things I didn't like, the book was just too lengthy. The introduction of adversarial backgrounds was neat but I didn't think they were necessary. Those were things that should be handled with role-playing rather than experience and freebie points.

So is this book worthy of purchase? For Mage storytellers and players who want to collect everything in the series the answer is yes. For casual gamers I would say no if you already have the core book and perhaps the Storyteller's Companion. If you also have Mage Sorcerer's Crusade and a handful of 2nd and Revised edition Tradition books than this book will not be worth it. If you love the Traditions and need to know about the structure and general practices than this book might be helpful.

This book, is very good, don't get me wrong. It is longer then the mage core book infact and most of this is in-character information. This is slightly annoying because of the amount of information one needs to wade through.

The book is organized into a few key sections. One details paradigms, new tradition factions and even pan-trandition groups. Another chapter has "crunchy" stuff, like wonders and new backgrounds. An interesting thing about the Wonders is their are things called Tradition swords. Each one has a magical ability that makes it a very powerful weapon.

The most noted chapter though is the history chapter. It is giant! It has information on different time periods and regions. Most notable is that if they were talking about Vikings they'd give examples of traditions who have people with Viking related paradigms. I'd call this info overload.

This book is very good.... but well... it's way to much useless information hiding important things. White-Wolf could have used it's writting space better.

Okay, so the Reckoning has come and gone. This book provides a lot of additional backgrounds and information of the Traditions, some on the Crafts, and A LOT on specific factions in the Council. It brings things up to speed and makes thing seem a little more modern. Also, it has some new backgrounds, traits, and cool stuff. If you play Mage, you need it.