While not the worst fencing book ever written, it is just barely above basic. The photos more often than not are just so-so (the fencers in the pictures look like rank beginners), and sometimes they are even confusing. Having been a fencer for some twenty-seven years, I would not recommend this book

Nancy Curry has produced a nice introduction to fencing. Recommended for the beginning fencer's book shelf.

Whereas House Atreides presented an absolutely awesome "back history" of Atreides rule and "House Harkonnen" forced events into virtual crisis mode, "House Corrino" is filled with palatial boredom. The third book in the prequel series tries hard to paint a vivid and striking portrait of Kaitan life and the political intrigues behind the throne, I found the story stilted and a little flawed (especially after the taut construction of HA and HH.

A few things really bothered me, especially when you think that the story occurs in 10,000 AD (or thereabouts, can't quite be sure):

1) People run around and say stuff like "Vermillion Hells!" way too much for my liking.

2) People do an awful lot of unnecessary travel in this book.

3) Given the far-reaching date, mankind seems to have REgressed instead of PROgressed (an especially endearing part of the original DUNE series is that sense of familiar yet alien that was brought about because of the remoteness of the date).

4) The authors pay an incredible amount of attention to what the characters are wearing, giving me the impression I was watching/reading "Fashion File: What To Wear To Ix" or the fashion section of the Kaitan Weekly.

5) Baron Harkonnen in this book is a total wimp without half the viciousness expressed in the original book or in House Harkonnen.

6) The Bene Gesserit are totally devoid of mystery and intrigue. Whereas the final three books in the original series made them human and totally mysterious, the prequel books give them the air of being nothing more than bickering nuns who can't even hypnotize anyone properly. Shabby way to deal with such a vital part of the Dune Mystique.

So, bottom line: could have been so much more but decided to go the "Space Opera" route instead. Pray there are no further books.

Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson come close to wrapping up the Dune prequel series with a climactic edition in "Dune: House Corrino". This story takes place in less than a year's time, beginning after the conception of Paul Atreides, and finishing just after his birth. The book starts off a little slow; it takes the authors a while to build up the suspense, but the last 150 pages of this work are well worth the wait. The details regarding the Corrino famliy are also enjoyable.

The authors set the stage in the two previous prequel stories ("House Atreides" and "House Harkonnen") and really didn't need to build up interest over such a long novel. FYI, both previous works are musts for devoted Dune fans. However, this is the best book out of the three editions. New readers will find the style smoother and more modern than the original Frank Herbert series, but not quite as creative. These stories fill in the many gaps in Frank Herbert's background, almost as if reading historical fiction.

The final third of the book is excellent, even difficult to put down as the action reaches a crescendo. Though every fan knows what is going to happen, we have been shielded from the truth all this time. You almost feel as if the story were new. However, there is one last story to tell here. Prepare to see "Dune: Bene Gesserit" bridging the birth of Paul Atreides to the relocation of his family to Planet Arrakis.

I have read every book in both Dune series and rate this book 3.80 out of 5.00 stars, rounded up to 4.00 stars, with points for writing style and for nicely wrapping up a lot of pre-history. Still want to read about more workings behind the scenes of the Sisterhood though.

All in all, I thought this was a marvelous book to end a fantastic trilogy, concluding the drama that was initiated in House Atreides and House Harkonnen respectively. It fell in line with the aformentioned two, giving more background information and interesting history on the Dune series. With a great plot and much suspense as well though, it is not simply to be read as a history lesson for future and current Dune fans. My only qualm with this book was with how Count Hasimir Fenring's character was treated near the end. Without giving away too much, I found his showdown with a certain Sword Master to be very anti-climactic, and against how he was portrayed in the prequels to this and in the first Dune book. The authors went for the easy kill, having everything come out for the good guys in the end, Fenring definitely deserved better, as I feel that he is one of the strongest characters in the story line, and from a disection of Dune, the original, it seemed as if Frank Herbert fealt this way as well. Mr. Brian Herbert must forge his own path though, so oh well. I'm sure he won't see this, but how about a rematch?

Having followed the story of their arrest on the news, I eagerly snatched up this book. Once I got into its pages, I could see that many will be offended by this story. Why? Because they will not understand it. You can understand what drove these women only if you have experienced similar faith and have lived a similar ministry.

I can understand where Dayna and Heather are coming from. We get their religious background, how they came to know and love God. We see how they felt drawn to Afghanistan to help the downtrodden. I was touched by their ministry to the poor. So much of it was practical, such as giving clothing and food. But the two also realized how these people, living under so hard a regime, needed hope. So the two walked a fine line, giving hope without actively converting.

Maybe some will see Dayna's and Heather's weaknesses, as when they were imprisoned and discouraged. But I saw their strengths, how they never stopped loving, how they continued to minister--giving food, clothing, etc., to fellow prisoners. I saw how they continued to give hope, teaching songs, telling stories,... Even cold, ill, or hungry, they still put others before themselves. And I was touched at the goodness of the Afghani people, their hospitality.

Dayna and Heather displayed no bitterness or resentment in their story. We see this story as part of their personal spiritual growth. I feel those who know them are lucky.

In August of 2001, we were introduced to American missionaries Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer. Each had accepted their calling into missions and was serving the people of Afghanistan. While many lives were changed as a result of their work, the Taliban arrested them for sharing their faith. For over three months the world watched and prayed for their release and eventually in November 2001, these prayers were answered.

While many of us believe that we have heard the whole story, there is more. Told candidly in first person, Heather & Dayna take the reader into their world. We are introduced to the people they impacted, their experiences in Afghanistan, and those who also were involved in their journey during their time in prison. You will truly be moved as you read of the experience that made both women stronger and passionate like never before.

Prisoners of Hope is a powerful, moving, and compelling story, one that is true testimony of God's faithfulness and mercy even through the most difficult of times. Dayna and Heather are incredible women and as a young Christian woman I salute them for heeding the call and sharing the gospel to the Afghan people. I pray that God will continue to bless them both greatly.

Reviewed by Kanika (Nika) Wade
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Dayna and Heather are two incredible women and I was so moved by following their story in the news last year that I eagerly bought and read this book in just a few days (it usually takes me weeks!). I was impressed with the way their different (sometimes really different) personalities came across in the way they told their stories. The book alternates between one of them telling their story and then the other one picks up. But even though they are different, it is beautiful how they share an amazing devotion to their Christian faith. They are quite forthright about being Christians, which I find refreshing since it often seems like some people just want you to keep it to yourself. This was fun to read and I hope they get to go back to Afghanistan some day like they say they do.

I was very disappointed at the quality of the recipes in this book. One recipe actually used boullion cubes for the stock!! From the tilte of the book I would think that each of these soups would be a "labor of love". None are very inspiring. I will probably never open this book again. I suggest the Willams Sonoma "Soup" highly over this.

This works better as a "memoir of soup making" rather than a book of soup recipes. Mr. Curry has an engaging and stimulating writing style and many of the stories that surround the recipes are quite delightful. The recipes themselves leave a lot to be desired. A lot of the ingredients I've never heard of and a lot of the soups are designed to be made by someone with unlimited time and patience available-not the norm in the typical American household. Some of these concoctions seem to have been designed to be exotic merely for the sake of being exotic, not because they provide superior soups. Of those recipes that seemed doable on our schedule with what we normally have at hand for our routine cooking, all were fine but none exceptional or particularly noteworthy.

If offbeat soup making is your life, then this might be a good choice. For most people, I'd say look for it on a friend/acquaintance's bookshelf and read it for the stories.

If you're looking for the ultimate gift cookbook, I can't think of a better choice than The Secrets of Jesuit Soupmaking. This book is beautifully written, and engages the reader's heart and soul unlike any other cookbook I've ever encountered. The recipes are SUPERB, and there is a year's worth of variety in this compact volume.

I've loaned The Secrets of Jesuit Soupmaking more times than I can count, and everyone who's borrowed it ended up buying their own copy. That's the highest praise I can lend this wonderful book!

The Doctor takes Ace to Terra Alpha to investigate disturbing rumours, they are soon plunged into the political intrigue of the planet: a dominating leader, secret police, the chief torturer, and a suppressed native race add up to a standard-style story, but here presented as an interesting confectionery.

Taking a leaf out of the Second Doctor story 'The Macra Terror', the environment of enforced bonhomie manages to make being happy somehow threatening. It also has a nod to Franz Kafka - like Josef K in 'The Trial', all the inhabitants of the planet have a single letter as their surnames.

Containing several obvious swipes at the British Government under Margaret Thatcher, although one would hesitate to try to name who the Kandy Man represents! The Kandy Man is the chief executioner of Terra Alpha, and specialises in death by confectionery.

A little bit odd, a little bit traditional, a little bit over-sweet. You might like it, but it may also be a little bit rich for some tastes.

I liked the book Fourtune's Choice by Elissa Curry because it shows how people can go from having nothing to having everything. This book is also good because it shows how two people that are totally different can fall in love. This book also has two people fighting for what they believe in. I would recommend this book for people who like love stories and like to read about people who go from nothing to everything.

Anticipating more of the humor and eccentricities that characterized the first in this series, The Man with a Load of Mischief, I was disappointed to find much of it missing in this second book, The Old Fox Deceiv'd. The plot is as intelligent and intriguing as all of Grimes' stories in the Richard Jury series, but I prefer it balanced with the charm and delightful characterizations of the denizes of that English village Long Piddleton. While Richard Jury is Grimes' hero in this series, the character of Melrose Plant is the one that makes me keep returning to these books for more.

I gave the book three stars because the author has a mindset that not all international negotiators will have. For Mr. Curry, the world is a dark place full of people who are trying to cheat him and take advantage of him. As an indication of his philopsophy, he doesn't think there are win-win negotiations.

Those who share the mindset will give the book five stars and love it. Those who disagree will be less impressed.

Having said that, the book does contain some excellent tips on organizing and conducting any negotiation, not just international negotiations. Use it for ammunition to get your boss to let you fly first or business class.

*I wrote the following review when I was upset about the "New Oakland" replacing the "Old Oakland". Now in 2003, I have cooled off a bit, and realize this is a very valuable book to anyone interested in learning more about this city. With that in mind, most of what I wrote is still true. And now: the review...

A primary reaction upon holding the book in my hands was definitive excitement, a joy stemming from the fact that it exists at all. Flipping through the pages was an immediate pay-off, with varied and colorful layouts generously displaying photographs, images and information - some familiar, and much of it new. Any original Oaklander will by nature feel sentimental about this publication.

Then arrives the secondary realization that it is obviously a commercially backed publication, possibly with subsidized content. This isn't a disappointment considering the generosity of the contributors and their mutual interest in the heritage of Oakland. As was shown with the earlier publication "Oakland, Hub of the West" one may still anticipate objectivity and a degree of thoroughness in the content of a commercially sanctioned anthology.

The third level of investigation came when I began to seek out those bits of our known history that are of particular interest to me. Admittedly I begin with the city's harder learned lessons, namely those occurring outside of law and order. Every town has it's legends and not all of them are pretty, but after all, where would Chicago be without the story of Al Capone? The criminal history of Oakland is substantial and I was surprised that it was not acknowledged at all. From this perspective it's difficult to fathom how figures such as Sonny Barger and Little Bobby Hutton managed to escape this book's scope.

It is somehow reasonable to understand the editors' conscious or unconscious squeamishness at acknowledging the realities of the Black Panther Party, the Hell's Angels, and the SLA. It's an all American impulse to look the other way from death and loss, or to overlook the grittier elements of the past. One must realize, however, that a significant portion of Oakland's cultural legacy is based upon these very losses. It is the responsibility of any contemporary Oakland anthologist to in some way confront the events surrounding these particular groups.

Crime and revolution aside, it was stunning not to see the slightest bit of evidence about many of the most prominent folk stories that have undeniably helped to shape the identity of this unsung city. The characters in these stories have names like Julia Morgan, Isadora Duncan, Bruce Lee, Clint Eastwood, Too Short, Jim Otto, Fong Yu, Shuck Yee, Larry Graham, and I'm tempted to go on but I will now stop. In all reality there is no use over editorializing about a book on Oakland that has more to say about the Versata Inc. Software Company than any of the above named persons or movements. The only thing left this reviewer has to express about The Spirit of Oakland Anthology is a number of serious questions addressed to those persons responsible for it.

Martha Grimes usually writes complex, thoughtful mysteries notable for their memorable characters and atmosphere; consequently, THE HORSE YOU CAME IN ON--which finds Jury and his friend Melrose Plant visiting Baltimore, Maryland to investigate a double homocide--will be a great disappointment her many fans.

The story is at once very slight and very, very convoluted, involving both an "art" novelist who is struggling to finish her latest work and a student who may or may not have forged a manuscript attributed to Edgar Allen Poe. After a certain point, Grimes also relies upon genealogy for a plot twist--and while I grant that she certainly knows a great deal about writing novels and is at least credible on the subject of Poe, her commentary on genealogy will not pass muster with even the mildest amateur genealogist. In the process we are also treated to chunks of the book the novelist is writing and chunks of the Poe story that may or may not be an elaborate hoax, and by the time the novel winds to its rather tedious conclusion we feel we have read everything except a novel by Martha Grimes. Which is a great pity indeed.

I was surprised to find that Grimes was willing to take her ensemble cast on the road and try her hand at mystery in America. Although Grimes is not always good at clearing up the loose ends that she begins, she is true to her characters. Her descriptions are vivid and accurate and her gang of do-gooders are delightfully consistent. Frankly I would be disappointed if some young lady didn't win the heart of confirmed bachelor Melrose Plant in each novel. Grimes entertains if only because her characters have a self-depracating sense of humour and a rollicking good time. I was thrilled on a trip to Baltimore, MD when I stumbled across the tavern "The Horse You Came In On." It was a piece of my world crossing Richard Jury's path.

I would definitely agree with those reviewers who say that this is a much waker story than the others in Martha Grimes' wonderful Richard Jury series. However, there are some hysterically funny aspects to this novel,which transports Melrose Plant and company to Baltimore. Melrose, one of England's most sheltered men, learns about American football, street people, and homeless shelters in a series of incidents that are truly fun.