I was very excited reading this extremely well-written adventure story. Although it is fiction, for me it was truth. Taking place thousands of years ago, the story is similar to Atlantis and is also parallel to what is happening on Earth at this time. There are many Universal truths scattered throughout the book that are eternal and something everyone needs to remember. Atlantii provides one with great insight and understanding of not only Atlantis but of our world today, which is in need of human change. It is an excellent book not only for the enlightened mind but also for those who seek alternative answers to our world's problems.

I have read Atlantii! and was not disapointed. A wonderful heartfelt story as well as an education.

This book changed my life. I was surprised to experience a past life which opened my eyes to what this life is about. Atlantii! is more than a spiritual fantasy adventure. It's a book about fact and truth. I also enjoyed the suspense and mystery surrounding the plot. It seems to be a book that will give you answers to those questions of life that we haven't been able to find up to now. At least other friends who have read the book tell me the same story.

This is not my kind of reading,it was very graphic, but it was a very good book. It held my attention from beginning to end. At the end of the book I wanted to know what happen to the people in the book. I was amazed that I finished it. The writer has a gift I hope he continues to pursue his writing, and in the future I hope to read something less graphic.

Wow, what a read!! The author portrays a full range of emotions and makes the characters feel as if you know them personally. You will experience their gains and losses as if you were one of them. The book will keep you on the edge till the very last page. I personally had to put it down and take a break from it in order to regroup my ravished senses. A must read for any Steven King fan or any one that is attracted to the darker side of reality.

Wow, what a read!! My mind is still reeling from the wonderfully sadistic and twisted plot. The Author brings to life the darker side of obsession/love and all the other quaint emotions we wee humans experience in our pathetic struggles for happiness.

Thumbing through Hammel and Lane's book one initially suspects that the pictures are the story. Contrary to this first impression, the book is an excellent telling of the battle for Betio Island in the Tarawa Atoll. Augmented by literally hundreds of top quality combat photos the tale flows in a most easily understood fashion. The narrative recreates the action as it occurred on each beachhead and follows it along until a logical point occurs before switching to another beachhead. Progressing along the three initial beachheads the reader follows the action of individual men, squads, and remnants of platoons and companies fighting for a toehold. The confusion that occurred on all the landing zones is told in a most understandable manner. The slaughter caused by the low tide and the reef surrounding the island is well presented.

The maps, placed in front of the book preceding the text, are excellent. The book's weakness lays in its lack of a significant discussion of planning, strategy and the then existing conditions in the Pacific. Tarawa played a key roll in the future invasions of the Marshalls, the Marianas and beyond. This was the first time an amphibious assault was made against a well-defended and contested beachhead. It also marked the turning point for amphibious assaults in that the LVTs (Landing Vehicle Tracked) were used for the first time as troop carriers instead of merely supply vehicles. As Admiral Hill stated, "...this operation was going to be a textbook for future operations." Although mentioned frequently in the text, the index contains no listing for the LVTs. Considering their all-important role, this is puzzling to this reviewer.

Having had a member of my family in the battle it was a outstanding adventure in the Best of Our Nation's Youth and the United States Marine Corps. The graphic pictures matched the historical and well researched commentary. I found that I could not read for long periods of time because of all of what was going on took time to digest and reflect on. You felt that you were crossing the lagoon along with the young Marines and you could almost here the action. There was courage on both sides and the book was fair as to that point. It truly gave a face to the savage nature, relentless, and cruel reality of this Pacific island invasion.

I found myself wondering about the faith and courage that were these young men. To keep their sanity and wits about them was truly remarkable. I also found myself wondering if this could be done again in our time. If the courage and singleness of purpose would be here today? It left me with a large amount of respect for the accomplishment of these men. We owe them our freedom and our sincere thanks.

Using newly uncovered archival photographs of the bloody battle for Betio Island, Eric Hammel and John Lane put the reader in the middle of the action. From the agonizing wade into the beach, up to the last neutralized pillbox, "Bloody Tarawa" is a fine update of a classic on this legendary campaign.

This is one of the Better child craft books. Easy to fallow instructions and not such long crafts that the kids loose intrest! We have enjoied this book alot! Thank you!

I am a coordinator for an afterschool program and I have seen many craft books. This one caught my eye because it has easy instructions, colored photos of the project and the materials to make many of these projects are household items. I went into a few bookstores and they didn't have a single book for the holidays. I am glad I turned to Amazon.com to find this wonderful craft idea book

I found this book to be very helpful and realistic for working with children. The materials needed are not elaborate and the instructions are easy to follow. The finished projects are cute and the children really are able to make the ornaments with little help from adults. Our tree this year will contain many ornaments made from the directions in this book.

In writing 'The Empire of Glass', Andy Lane takes a number of references in the show's history and weaves them into a complicated plot.

Significant among them is the Armageddon Convention, in which the majority of races (other than the Daleks and the Cybermen) agreed to ban the use of certain types of weapons. The novel holds that, when the Doctor was called into his own future to assist with the Omega crisis (in 'The Three Doctors') he was assigned the task of chairing the convention, but due to an bureaucratic oversight this was erased along with memories of meeting his next two incarnations.

This book also introduces Time Lord Irving Braxiatel, who goes on to play a significant role in the life of seventh Doctor companion Bernice Summerfield.

Like 'The Plotters', another novel set in similar places in both actual history and the history of the show, we get to see a complex spy network involved with secret societies. A number of historical figures are drawn into the story, including playwrights William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe (both spies in the employ of the English government) and Galileo Galilei.

The Convention plays a central role to the story, as different forces work to ensure it succeeds and opposing forces that it fails. The Doctor's efforts are, in part, hindered by recently acquired companion Steven Taylor, who is a bit of a rogue element in the TARDIS crew.

Where this novel succeeds is by setting in place a complex web oif opposing forces, and guiding the TARDIS crew, and we readers, through it in what is both a stimulating and enjoyable read.

On one level, this is a historical Doctor Who adventure and a very good one. The author captures the period perfectly and the reader will come away enlightened concerning Venice, Shakespeare, Galileo etc. It is also a very good Sci fic adventure that makes excellent use of the Doctor Who universe. I particularly enjoyed seeing the Sontarans and the references to the other races. The fact that the Daleks and the Cybermen were not invited to Braxitel's conference was a perfect touch. The series never really made good use of the Whoverse that it slowly created-most of the adventures seemed to take place in their own realities but this book effortlessly joins together the many disparate elements. The characterizations of the Doctor and his companions are spot on and the epiloque with Shakespeare and Braxitel is genuinely moving. A real accomplishment that will like the book's "lost Shakespeare plays" will never be truly appreciated because it's "just" a Doctor Who book. Maybe, but it's also a great novel.

Andy Lane manages to combine the ecentriciaty of Hartnell's who with some of the galactic hero elements of the later Doctores quite well. The nice tie in with the Three Doctors also works well, and manages to pave over the continuity problems which would have otherwise arisin had the Doctor's memory not been wiped. His charecterization of Vicki is a bit off. She does seem far too much of an adult, whearas in the episodes she always seemed to act as a bit of a child. It is a nice touch however to explore her feelings about the events that transpired on Dido, and the death of her pet at Barbara's hands. Steven's charectraization is great. He's exposed to the drinkin ghabits of Galileo, and tries to keep up, quite unsuccesfully. Also including Galileo and Shakspere as a spy isalso a nice touch.

This is book is one I recommand for giving to family and friends who want to learn sign language. It not the best on the market but it is affordable and easy to understand. This book is also just the basics so you need to work with who ever you give this book too. This book also helps when it comes to differnt kind of sign language or signs for the same word. It a great book and I give it to everyone who ask me about Sign Language!

I work with kids with hearing impairments and this book is a great tool to anyone who is trying to learn to sign. It is clear and easy to follow. I highly recommend it to anyone trying to learn to sign.

especially when you need to find a specific word(s) in a hurry. you won't have to fuss over understanding how to do the signs. I love it. Excellent learning tool.

This book has a great selection of songs. I remember a lot of these songs from my childhood. The accompaniment for most of the songs is easy. My only concern is how difficult it is to keep the book open on a music stand. It's a big book with thick binding.

You know all those songs we grew up with and want to share with our children, but you can't remember the words or music? Well this is the book for you complete with guitar chords and original words! A great collection for any home.

This book is filled with songs that I remember from childhood but have forgotten all the words to. Now I can sing songs to my daughter instead of just humming the tunes! Our family has had a lot of fun with this book.

Doubtless, the author knows his subject. But, like many contemporary academics, he is unable to clearly and concisely state a thesis, marshal the facts and arguments and to then move on. I suspect this type of thing results from a fear of making oneself an easy taget for some carping, caviling "scholar".

The author, with his undisciplined, meandering style, managed to turn a fascinating subject and his own deep knowledge into an insufferably long (799 pages) and tedious mass of mush. It is hardly surprising that this book is out of print.

Yes, there are some fine nuggets to be mined herein. However, they are easy to miss when your eyes are glazed over. This book is not recommended for the general reader looking for an interesting, informative book of manageable length.

The Christian Church does not talk much about how it obtained dominance in the European world. One reads of BIble stories and martyrs and popes but nothing on the events that led to the overthrow of the gods of a religious people. In this book, one discovers that early Christians were the "Atheists" since they did not worship a pagan god.

Pagan gods were wondrously easygoing. Each town or family had their own god. Acceptance or rejection was entirely personal. Gods could be adopted, created, borrowed or discarded depending on the social circumstance. Christianity demands that only "God" (Jesus) receive adoration, thus setting up a conflict that resulted in one side winning and outlawing the former gods.

What is particularly interesting is the daily life of the people and how their religion affected them. Pagans were generous with their money, held services, performed rituals and prayed for success or money. Even more interesting is the manner in which Christianity adapted and adopted from pagans - both in theology and ritual. The mystical union of god and man was a uniquely pagan thought as was the "Mind of God". We read about the ferocious fights concerning divinity ("Was Jesus one or separate with God?"), scripture (books were "voted" holy at synods) and ceremony. Christianity owes at least as much to paganism as it does Judaism. Get this book and The Unauthorized Version, Fox's other masterpiece.

I came away from reading this wonderful book with a feeling of "those sly dogs" refering to the Christians. After reading this book your eyes will be opened to how everything we accept as truth today has a very spotted past. The book describes how the Christian Church learned from their Pagan past how to manipulate its flock. A practice that goes on to this day. The exegete, Mr. Fox digs up the dirt so to speak on the most pius of institutions. The book is vast and very detailed. Not one to pick up for mindless Christian entertainment. You might just learn the flawed truth about our most hallowed institutions and be set free. This is not a book for fundamentalist and will be damned by them.

It was interesting to find out that the early church was not prosectuted for it faith...A lession the church has learned to use today on those they consider "unsavory". I came away with the impression that the Christian church today is and was no better than the pagans it drew most of their traditions from.

Pretty good audio book. Especially enjoyed the poem by S. Wilkins. I would like to see/hear more from him.

i enjoyed these stories as i listened to them at work. it made the day go by at 65 mph!

My mother, Lane Taylor, was one of the writers of this book. So I listened to it and I thought it was pretty neat!

My review of From Brothel to Ballot Box starts with a newspaper article which appeared in the Las Vegas Review-Journal several years ago. The gist of the article was that a woman named Jessi Winchester, Mrs. Virginia City, would be competing in Las Vegas for the title of Mrs. Nevada. What made this non-story newsworthy was that Ms. Winchester was a working brothel prostitute. The article headline trumpeted Mrs. Virginia City's occupation, and even ran a picture.

Competing in this pageant was one of the bravest things I had ever seen a woman do. I said to my wife, "This lady deserves some encouragement. She's going to need it." She agreed, and we sent a small check to Jessi Winchester, Mrs. Virginia City, Virginia City, Nevada to help defray the costs of competing in the contest. She wrote back a nice thank you note and described the 1880's gowns she had made for the event, enclosed a picture, and invited us to the pageant, which we couldn't attend. But we asked her to call to tell us the outcome as soon as it was over. She did, at the edge of tears, desperately hurt at the shoddy treatment she had received at the hands of her fellow contestants and of the contest organizers. I was and am ashamed of my fellow Las Vegans for their cruelty and bad manners.

A review of From Brothel to Ballot Box, unlike most book reviews, must start not with what it is but with what it isn't. This is not a polished piece of literature from the pen of a master wordsmith. It is not carefully crafted. Neither is it a puff piece designed to curry favorable reviews and achieve some ulterior purpose. Nor is it cautious and politically correct. The book, like the author, is intense, funny, insightful, sad, happy, hopeful, despairing, angry, thoughtful. But not in any particular order. It is written like a conversation one would have with a raconteur friend at the dinner table and over drinks by the fire. It is a book written from the gut. It is an "I am." It is "Credo."

Jessi Winchester is a romantic midwest farm kid who believes, truly believes the Fourth of July rhetoric that we used to hear from the bandshell in the city park after the parade. She believes that the promises of the Declaration of Independence apply to her personally, and to her countrymen individually and that the Constitution is the instrument to guarantee that they do. She believes in the notion that the most capable people should fill the toughest jobs. She believes in family and friends and loyalty and honesty and fair play. She is willing to take risks for what she believes in. And she believes in testing herself against the world.

She marries a cop, starts a family, goes through a divorce, takes up motorcycles and movie stunt work, and becomes a movie executive. And falls in love. Her new husband, Michael, is severely injured in a accident, and the family, now in Nevada, must have an income. So Jessi, after discussing the move at length with Michael and the kids, goes to work in a Nevada brothel. And thus begins the odyssey.

By the time the book ends, Jessi has taken us from the Mustang Ranch through two statewide contests for public office. The names of the Nevada politicians and party figures, some of whom I know personally, will mean nothing to most readers. They aren't necessary to the story, and their actions are undeserving of any ink from me. This is a book about an American willing to attempt great things and to overcome disillusionment by the hypocrisy of "the system." This is a book you will want to give to your sons and daughters and say, "Here is a woman to be proud of. Here is a woman who rises above petty labels and phony respectability to pursue worthy goals. Here is the kind of person an American should strive to be."

Jessi Winchester's book, FROM BORDELLO TO BALLOT BOX, shows the side of American politics we all knew about but hoped wouldn't happen (until shortly after it was published).

The book is remarkably endearing in discussing the author's life, from the stated date of her birth (you'd never think it) up to the writers' strike of 1988 which prompted her to leave an exeuctive job in Hollywood. A lot of autobiographies, even by and about "nice" people, don't show warmth or a range of emotion.

The part everybody wants to read, of course, is about the author's life as a courtesan. It is thankfully tame, with the most hair-raising parts detailing her relationships with other women of the brothels. There is also a separate section about Joe Conforte, a brothel-chain owner, which probably should have been moved to the discussion of brothel life. Conforte sounds and acts like a mobster, and appears to have had much to do in influencing hostile attitudes toward brothels.

Once Ms. Winchester gets into the political arena, the best parts are the friction between Northern Nevada (which is 99% of the state's area but barely half its population) and Las Vegas, which confirmed its reputation as Sin City in quite a new way. A parade of political figures, some of them difficult to follow, court votes in Vegas and ignore Reno, Carson City and other locations in the rest of the big state. No wonder, because Vegas seems to have billions of dollars to siphon off in corruption, making the rest of the state look like a quarter slot machine.

The book ends with an impassioned plea for third parties to combat the "annointment" system for candidates by Republicans and Democrats. This was written before the Reform Party disintegrated under Pat Buchanam's Presidential campaign, and also before Jesse Ventura (whom the author likes) began plans to announce for the Extreme Football League. It will undoubtedly leave a bad taste in the mouths of many supporters of the two major political parties, and require much careful planning and support of specific issues before independent candidates win many offices.

As an expose' of politics as usual, this book offers little hope. As an autobiography, it is a charm and is well worth reading as a story of setting up The American Dream and working toward it. And, whatever she might say, you know she is still working toward it.

Several books are on the market about Nevada's brothels. I have read three. One was by a madam and was quite interesting from her point of view. One was by a person who wasn't even part of the sex business and was doing a condom study instead at a brothel. Her book was not very good. From Bordello to Ballot Box was written by an actual working girl, which makes a huge difference. Not only does Ms. Winchester show the human side of sex workers, she battled the evil world of politics and made people see her as a human being. Her book is very compelling and brings a lot of emotions to the surface. I couldn't put it down.