The quiz book covers the first ten Redwall books and contains five quizzes of seven to eleven questions: Places and Journeys, Heroes and Heroines, Rogues and Villains, Dreams and Quests, and Food and Feasts. There are also five riddles taken from the Redwall books, and all answers are given at the back. I didn't think these questions were overly easy. They are not multiple choice, and if you read the ten books before taking the quizzes, how can you remember the "four other titles of Gabool the Wild" or all the ingredients of the Great Hall cake, for instance? Some, where a riddle is given and the solution requested, are easier than others.

The map folds out to about three feet by two feet and is nice as a very general map. I was hoping that it would be more of a combination of all the ten books' maps, with all the labelling from them, but most of the specific places from those maps aren't noted. Also, it would have been nice to have sites marked where interesting plot elements occurred. Still, it is fun to have a big map of the Redwall universe.

All in all, this was slightly disappointing, but still a lot of fun.

It has 8 or 10 pages of realy good riddles in the riddler some come right out of the books (like in Pearls of Lutra) and others re new.

The map is realy good detal and covers from Marshank to Southsward

I was surprised that the simple structure andinstructions offered a wealth of possibilities. for instance using Meyer lemons with the lemon curd recipe.

I recommend this book for the following reasons:

1) very easy - similiar desserts have more steps and do not come out as well as the ones here; 2) Very nice layout -- care was taken in visual presentation; 3) Recipes are provided in both metric and imperial weights -- guaranteeing sound results; 4) Recipes are done with a minimal amount of fuss, ease of reading and less cluttered; 5) The recipes work.

Not a bad combination at all. Much effort has gone into this book and at first it seems too simple to justify the expenditure but it definitely deserves a place on the shelf. Granted, there are hundreds of poundcake recipes out there but none so simple and allows for a certain understated elegance. You could get a dessert book that provides show stoppers that cause people to oohh and ahhh on the visual level but it is all in the taste. Now the the stuff here will not get you the ooohhh and ahhh but it will get you a "yum" or two. END

Presented by.........................Winter!

For anyone with an interest in French cuisine, this book is an absolute must.

Of course, the French do love baked goods, but tradition has dictated that we leave their creation to the masters. Even the tiniest village in the French countryside will have an assortment of boulangeries (bakeries) and patisseries (pastry shops). And, if you walk through the village early enough in the morning, most of the people you encounter will be coming home with their daily baguette.

When our bakeries and pastry shops close for their own month long summer holiday, we usually just do without.

The New French Baker has literally, for me, at least, brought the joy of authentic French baking to France. In one big, wonderful book, Sheila Linderman has gathered together authentic and delectable recipes for classic French breads, pastries and desserts.

Linderman first details the basics and she also explains exactly how to make the various French pastry doughs, something most French cooks aren't well acquainted with.

All of the favorite classics are included: Tarte Tatin, Tarte au Citron, éclairs, millefeuilles, palmiers, choux à la crème, crepes, crème brulée and more.

Linderman's step-by-step instructions make sure you always create the perfect brioche and the most impeccable raspberry tarte. There is even a special section on the proper handling of fresh ingredients such as butter, flour, eggs and chocolate.

The chocoholics in your life will love Linderman's truffles as well as her Four-Tiered Chocolate Mousse.

Although the recipes in this book are certainly delicious, they are all quite difficult to make. This is not a book for the beginning baker; it is more suited to one with some experience who wants to expand his or her horizons in the areas of breads and pastries.

The only problem I have with the book is a small one: the inclusion of more photos of these wonderful (and gorgeous!) pastries would have been a definite plus and would have added to the value of the book.

But thanks to Sheila Linderman and The New French Baker, my family and I are now enjoying delicious classic French pastries right from our own kitchen for the very first time! C'est magnifique!

That said, there are some beautiful pictures, tributes and commentaries. Well worth it.

Specifically they look to precision-guided munitions as the key weapons of future combat, and space as its primary battleground. They make compelling arguments for each, particularly regarding the obsolescence of the primary weapons of today's Pax Americana: the tank, the strategic bomber, and the aircraft carrier. Furthermore, the completely debunk the myth of nuclear supremacy on the modern battlefield.

The problems with this book that I alluded to are twofold. First, the editing is appalling; there are numerous typos and misprints (for example, referring to a torpedo that can travel at 400 knots). While the knowledgeable reader can usually infer what the authors' intent is, editorial errors always make for a frustrating reading experience.

The second concern cuts to the heart of the book. While the authors do a superb job of defining the future battlefield, they offer very little in terms of how we get there from where we currently stand. The weapons systems they describe will almost certainly come to pass, but they neither make suggestions as to the allocation of R&D dollars, nor offer any sense of what research should receive priority. In the absence of such commentary, their bold assertions frequently seem more like dogma than scholarship. Moreover, they ignore potential doctrinal changes that might extend the service life of current weapons systems while increasing their effectiveness.

At its best, 'The Future of War' is a visionary look into the future of armed conflict. The authors correctly grasp the dawning senility of the weapons currently deployed, and paint a bold picture of what the future battlefield will look like. Unfortunately, while brilliantly describing the future, they completely ignore the near to middle term. As a result, 'The Future of War' while well worth reading, can only be treated as half of an equation. One must read the works of authors like Leonhard and MacGregor to truly appreciate the shape of the modern battlefield.

This book made a clearly argued case for American Dominance, but it does not help us to see the political/moral future. But within its parameters, its an "eye-opener."