The Awakening captivated my attention from page one all the way through. The story is gripping, the suspense wonderful, and the characters vivid, real, and engaging. Ms. Turner creates a world and events real enough to feel you're there, with conflicts that resonate for us living in critical times in our own world today. A wonderful read.

This story is delightfully engaging with rich, imaginative settings, a fast moving plot and believable heroic and sinister characters. I was moved by the blend of passion and politics, spirituality and human frailty. There are wonderful twists and turns in the story right up to the very end....so appealing is the pace of this book, I found myself easily missing sleep to read just another few chapters....

I was saddened when one of my favorite writers, Marion Zimmer-Bradley passed away...but with the release of Ms. Turner's first novel, I am renewed! I've already given this book to a half a dozen friends and I can't wait to read the next two installments in this trilogy!

This book is very good! From the moment I took it from its packing box, I could not put it down. I was almost glued to it until I finally turned the last page. Jodine Turner has written a wonderful and compelling tale, full of magic, suspense, and vibrantly alive characters; a tale which really draws the readers in and makes them care what happens to these characters. I look forward to Ms. Turner's next novel.

I can't possibly think of a better resource to get you jump-started on your way to the weird and wacky world of genre movies. The Phantom of the Movies' Videoscope is the definitive guide to anything and everything obscure.

The book is divided into eight major sections, each covering a specific genre of movies. The first is "Inside the Frightfest", a section totally devoted to horror movies ('Night of the Living Dead'). Following this are sections for action ('The Killer'), science fiction ('Invasion of the Body Snatchers'), thrillers ('Blue Velvet'), comedies ('Brazil'), camp classics ('The Brain That Wouldn't Die'), exploitation films ('Beyond the Valley of the Dolls'), and "celluloid delinquents" ('Beat Girl'). Just scan through those titles again... if those films aren't your idea of a good time, you should probably skip this purchase. On the other hand, if you're the kind of person who would watch 'The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across The Eight Dimension' more than once (willingly), then you've found your book!

The films are organized alphabetically according to their specific genre. For instance, all the horror films are listed alphabetically first, then the action films and so on. Therefore, unless you know what kind of genre the film is classified under, you'll have to consult the Index. You'll probably end up having to search through the Index anyway, since many multi-genre films can be classified either way (i.e. 'Basket Case' is classified as a comedy).

The reviews of the films are ranked on a scale of one to four stars. It's important to note that some films that are normally regarded as "trash" are seen here as masterpieces. As with any book on this subject, the first review you should turn to is 'Plan 9 From Outer Space'. Ed Wood's most famous outing is almost universally acknowledged as the worst film ever made. Here, it gets the four star treatment, being hailed as "the most enriching, entertaining bad movie ever made"!

"The Plan 9 Test" is usually a good indicator to how well the book covers this kind of subject area. Many film critics look at movies with an emotional detachment, trying to review them in a way that the majority of the population would see them. Videoscope is a film guide that takes a more fan-oriented approach to the practice, reviewing films in the way that the target audience would see them. And although you may not always agree on the reviews (David Lynch's 'Lost Highway' is a film that I would have personally rated four stars), it's refreshing to be reading movie reviews from somebody who's on the same wavelength as you.

This latest edition of the Ultimate Guide continues from the highly successful first edition (no longer in print) in providing the reader with sharp, concise, reviews of every important (and a few not-so important) genre films. The Phantom's unique style and no nonsense approach are refreshing in this era of overblown hyperbole in movie reviews. His rating system is eminently simple and easy to use and while I don't always share his opinions on certain films, I do respect his point of view. The book is well organized with interesting contributions from major people in the genre. Apart from being a terrific resource, the book is entertaining as well. If you like his style, as I do you, should also check out his quarterly magazine- Videoscope - available on newstands everywhere - I think.

hey, if you want to read a film critic who reviews the masterpieces(john woo's HARD-BOILED), the good, the bad, the ugly(RE-ANIMATOR), the very ugly (like the disgusting I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE; he gave it 2 stars? roger ebert=ZERO!), the sleazy(abel ferrara's putrid MS. 45), the grade-z movies (MANOS! THE HANDS OF FATE + any Ed Wood movie), etc. etc., then The Phantom a.k.a. Joe Kane's VIDEOSCOPE is for you! it is must-read!

The essence of vowels is very different than the essence of consonants, and in this story vowels and consonants become characters in separatist communities whose mutual irritation with the other escallates into war.

The qualities of the letters is depicted very cleverly, and the illustrations very playfully draw attention to the letters in a much more charming way than the typical ABC book. The battle scenes are a big favorite for the boys who will ask to read the book over and over again. And the ending leaves seeds for thought both in how letters work together and in how people live together.

This is my 5 yr old's favourite book. We've spent quite a bit of time discussing the fun illustrations and the clever text. It always brings smiles to our faces...

.... My six year old JUST LOVED this story, the humor is right on target for a child who is learning about the difference between vowels, consonants, letters sounds, etc. Even more so for the emerging reader that can actually read much if the book themselves , including the ending when all the letters "join forces" to spell out a message. This is not a phonics book, rather a humorous tale with a moral. Nurturing good reading habits in young readers involves not only helping them understand that books can introduce them to new ideas and take them to far away places but also that the books they read can be funny and truly make them laugh out loud. This book surely fits the bill!

No vulgarity. No profanity. No salacious remarks. No racism. No blasphemy. And Minnie Pearl called herself a comedienne? Indeed she did, and so did legions of fans for over fifty years. Even now that she's gone, her memory is beloved by all her admirers and those who value clean and uproariously funny jokes.

Some of these zany stories may lose something without Miss Minnie's unique delivery, but even those that fall a little flat will still cause a chuckle, and none will offend.

Its hard to imagine the ribald monologues of Roseanne Barr or any of today's other so-called funnywomen living on the way Minnie Pearl's classy comedy has. Besides the good times these jokes will bring, they stand as the wholesome legacy of an admirable lady who respected both her fans and her integrity.

No vulgarity. No profanity. No salacious remarks. No racism. No blasphemy. And Minnie Pearl called herself a comedienne? Indeed she did, and so did legions of fans for over fifty years. Even now that she's gone, her memory is beloved by all her admirers and those who value clean and uproariously funny jokes.

Some of these zany stories may lose something without Miss Minnie's unique delivery, but even those that fall a little flat will still cause a chuckle, and none will offend.

Its hard to imagine the ribald monologues of Roseanne Barr or any of today's other so-called funnywomen enduring the way Minnie Pearl's classy comedy has. Besides the good times these jokes will bring, they stand as the wholesome legacy of an admirable lady who respected both her fans and her integrity.

I personally havn't read the book, but listen to my wife laugh alot while she was reading the book! And if you can get my wife to laugh your doing pretty good ! Thank you for those moments of enjoyment.

Jonna Turner's book combines the style of Nancy Drew, the angst of afternoon television soaps, the fantasy of a bored traveller in Memphis, and a good but incredulous plot to provide a couple hours of fast read entertainment. Her main character Jeagan is refreshingly unpretentious and so naive, that an aspiring Agathe Christie or Nancy Drew will find him or herself at home in her shoes. Here is a character more concerned about matching her outfits than analyzing her clues. Still Jonna Turner is a fresh and promising author.

I very much enjoyed this book I think in part because of the setting in Memphis. The Memphis backdrop really made the book come to life for me having lived in Memphis for years.

The storyline of the desk actually being the catalist to set the story in motion was very interesting. It was a book I read from start to finish in one sitting, not just because it was less than 200 pages, but because it was intriguing and I had to find out how it ended.

It's a great book to sit down on a rainy Sunday afternoon and enjoy.

If you are tired of books based on sex and violence the this the the book for you. It is one of the first works of a new, up and coming author, Jonna Turner. The Desk is a murder mystery with a supernatural twist. Ms.Turner was raised in Memphis, Tenn and the book centers there. It is a pleasure to read something that does not offend the senses and yet holds your attention. With the ending she gave us we will be looking forward to the next work by her.

First, I'd like to clarify the 3 stars. If you do not have Rigger 2, then this book could get 4 stars. It has rather good information for rigger characters in Shadowrun. I don't recommend it as a general-purpose book, as the Cannon Companion and Man and Machine books are because it just doesn't do enough. From a non-rigger player perspective, it offers very little to be used in any campaign. From the rigger or GM perspective, though, it is a very valuable tool.

The biggest problem with the book, however, is that it differs very little from the Rigger 2 book. Pretty much the only change is the addition of ships and subs and the rules governing them. If you already own the Rigger 2 book, I urge you not to waste your money with this book. While the other 3rd edition books offer good consolidations, reorganizations and even large rewrites, this one really includes none of that.

If you never buy another Shadowrun book, ever, you must purchase this one. It expands the rules covering vehicles and drones in the Shadowrun universe. It changes vehicle pricing and the way certain things work. All in all, it's a great resource to have.

I've played Shadowrun since 1990 and once tried to collaborate on a 'net project to overhaul the Rigger Blackbook. I once argued that GURPS Vehicles (1st ed.) by Steve Jackson Games was the _real_ Rigger Blackbook (only published by the wrong company *grin*).

With that on my resume, I confidently exclaim that Rigger 3 represents a long awaited overhaul and expansion for the neglected rigger. For years, anyone who wanted to play a rigger had to endure weak rules that made play impossible even for those "never say die" fans who struggled to make sense of the anemic and confusing construction rules.

With Rigger 3, the rigger not only becomes a viable player character, but he may very well be the most versitile and dangerous member of any shadowrun team! This book includes outstanding construction rules for anything mechanical and visible to the naked eye, and now your PCs can steal boats, cars or tanks and actually take off without stopping the game to invent rules.

For me the most exciting part of Rigger 3 was the volumes of material on drones - from bug-sized crawling drones, to aerial drones, to remote controlled vehicles. It's wonderful! I love the idea of a rigger and her army of drones (depicted on the cover). Orders can be issued to single or multiple drones or the rigger can "move into" an individual drone or vehicle and take control with a first-hand perspective. Drones rules.

And finally, I'm satisifed they resolved the "ghost-in-the-machine" debate, and that the vehicle is an extension of the rigger's body (heart-engine, oil-blood, wheels-legs) rather than the rigger losing her spirit in the machine (e.g. decker).

Instead of Three Wishes, by Megan Whalen Turner, is a book for everyone. It doesn't matter whether you are six or sixty-six; this book brings out the inner child in all of us. The clever plot twists and fantasy worlds keep your mind on edge. Instead of Three Wishes is composed of seven mystical short stories that will amaze you. The second story is entitled "Leroy Roachbane." This story involves a child named Leroy. Every morning Leroy woke up and went into his pantry to kill off any cockroaches before his mother entered. One day after his daily duty, Leroy went to the store to buy boric acid and roach motels. On his way home, Leroy's bike skid on an ice patch, and he was knocked unconscious. Leroy's mind began to wander, and took him to a place in many ways similar to his own life. When Leroy regained consciousness, he discovered something out of the ordinary. This story was incredibly entertaining and mind boggling, as is the next story. The third story is called the "Factory." In short, this story concerns a new employee that will work the high crane at a local factory. For some reason, this job has been vacant often. One day while the employee was reading on his lunch break, he saw another figure that seemed to also be reading. In actuality, the figure was the ghost of a little girl who once lived on the factory lot. This story takes what we think we know and twists it into the unknown. "Factory" makes you wonder if there is an afterlife, in a fun and lighthearted way. The fifth story is the title story. This story is in some ways similar to the first story in the book. It involves a student who helped an unrecognizable elf prince cross a busy intersection. In return the prince offers the student three wishes. THe student declines the offer and moves on. Over the next weeks, the student and her dis abled mother recieved a handful of gifts, which they decline. In the end, the perfect gift is evident, the offer was so thoughtful, and the student could not refuse. This story was very interesting to read because of the personal connections. Everyone has tried to find the perfect gift, and this story just pulls those emotions together in a magical way. The final story is entitled " The Baker King." i personally found this story to be the most humorous and entertaining. The story involves an island country without a king. The elderly king sent his only son off to boarding school, but no one thought enough to ask where. After a short while, the king passed away, and the island was without a leader. The king's court decided it would simply wait for a letter from the prince. After nine years, a letter was finally recieved. But it was not from the prince. It was from a wanted bandit. The letter prolaimed that the bandit would king himself once he and his gang arrived in the country. With little time to spare, the minister of cultural events, Orvis, went out one night and accidentally ran into a baker. Orvis was convinced that the baker could very easily pass as the king. In the end, the baker became king for a day, but then chose to return to the bakery. This story has many interesting, funny, and clever parts. "The Baker King", also has a nice overall theme. The story shows, that being rich and famous is not perfect for everyone. Overall, this book was an amazing read. I would recommend this to any person who enjoys questioning the obvious.

Instead of Three Wishes, by Megan Whalen Turner, is a book for everyone. It doesn't matter whether you are six or sixty-six; this book brings out the inner child in all of us. The clever plot twists and fantasy worlds keep your mind on edge. Instead of Three Wishes is composed of seven mystical short stories that will amaze you. The second story is entitled "Leroy Roachbane." This story involves a child named Leroy. Every morning Leroy woke up and went tinto his pantry to kill off any cockroaches before his mother entered. One day after his daily duty, Leroy went to the store to buy boric acid and roach motels. On his way home, Leroy's bike skid on an ice patch and he was knocked unconscious. Leroy's mind began to wander, and took him to a place in many ways similar to his own life. When Leroy regained consciousness, he discovered something out of the ordinary. This story was incredibly entertaining and mind boggling, as is the next story. The third story is called the "Factory." In short, this story cancerns a new employee that will work the high crane at a local factory. For some reason, this job has been vacant often. One day while the employee was reading on his break, he saw another figure that seemed to also be reading. In actuality, the figure was the ghost of a little girl who once lived on the factory lot. This story takes what we think we know ans twists it into the unknown. "Factory" makes you wonder if there is an afterlife in a fun and lighthearted way. The fifth story is the title story. This story is in some ways similar to the first story in the book. It involves a student who helped an unrecognizable elf prince cross a busy intersection. In returm, the prince offered the student three wishes. The student declined the offer and moved on. Over the next weeks, the student and her disabled mother recieved a handful of gifts, which they decline. In the end, the perfect gift is evident, the offer was so thoughtful, and the student could not refuse. This story was very interesting to read because of the personal connections. Everyone has tried to find the perfect gift, and this story just pulls those emotions together in a magical way. The final story is entitled "The Baker King." I personally found this story to be the most humorous and entertaining. The story involves an island country without a king. The elderly king sent his only son off to boarding school, but no one thought enough to ask where. After a short while, the king passed away, and the island was without a leader. The king's court decided it would simply wait for a letter from the prince. After nine years, a letter was finally recieved, but it was not from the prince. The letter was from a wanted bandit. It proclaimed that the bandit would king himself once he and his gang arrived in the country. With little time to spare, the minister of cultural events, Orvis, went out one night and accidentally ran into a baker. Orvis was convinced that the baker could very easily pass for the king. In the end, the baker becomes king for a day, but then chose to return to the bakery. This story has many interesting, funny, and clever parts. "The Baker King", also, has a nice overall theme. The story shows that being rich and famous is not perfect for everyone. Overall, this book was an amazing read. I would recommend this to any person who enjoys questioning the obvious.

Every single story in this book are filled with excitement and you don't want to put the book down! Each are a surprising magical tale for all ages. One story, a girl goes into a painting to find a treasure for someone. A surprising ending. I can't tell you how good all of the stories are. You have to read them!

Jacques Pepin is a joy to watch on television. He is a natural teacher with a flair for beautiful yet simple little masterpieces in the kitchen.

This is my first book by Pepin, and those same talents shine through. Sections are divided into various fruits, and a one to three page introduction to each section gives information about the history, origin and uses for the fruits (including apples, apricots, bananas, berries, cherries, citrus, grapes, dates, mangoes, melons, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums and mixed fruits) as well as Mr. Pepin's personal anecdotes. There are about 120 recipes and they are generally easy and not too time-consuming. Simple yet elegant. Each recipe contains information about yield, preparation time, and calories, protein, carbs, fat, cholesterol and sodium per serving.

The recipes I have tried have been well-explained and have come out as planned. Most, but not all, dishes are shown in color pictures. The index includes many ingredients so if you want to make something with, for example, red wine, you will easily find the eight recipes which use it.

This is a wonderful guide to using fruit at its best, whether fresh, frozen, or dried. I'd thought for some time that "Greene on Greens" and "The Grains Cookbook" by the late Bert Greene needed a third companion volume on fruit. Pepin's solution is better. The first day I had it, I made blackberries in a honey cream sauce. I adapted the blackberry/kiwi recipe to use peaches instead of kiwi. I even like the melon recipes, and I don't even care for melon! Pepin does rely a bit on special liqueurs such as kirsch, Grand Marnier, etc. But the Pepin way is the spirit of experimentation, so substituting something else might be just the ticket (my homemade cognac vanilla extract was superb with the blackberries and peaches). Simplicity is the word. If you love fruit, you can't be without this serious book.

Looking for something different to cap off a dinner party, I was loaned this book by a friend. I've tried several recipes - all work just as described. I especially like the many 'easy' recipes that take little time, and the fact that many recipes are light on fat. It's a lovely book.

As any fan of the show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, knows, the Solomons are a group of aliens, sent from another galaxy to study the earth and humanity. This quirky book is a distillation of all of the things that the Solomons learned. Sadly, as every fan of the show knows, every lesson they learned is hilariously wrong! This book is a collection of hilarious observations of the human condition, guaranteed to leave you in stitches!

This book is so incredibly funny. You'll be laughing all the way to the next galaxy. A must-read for fans!In what other book would you find Harry's Movie Reviews, where he says that "Showgirls" is a good film for youngsters. I quote him in that, "the dance sequences will dazzle young and old alike." A quick read, and not one that you will soon forget

I am a huge fan of this show, and I think that this book is the funniest thing I have ever read! It is filled with zillions of pictures, color and black-and-white, and tidbits from each character on everything imaginable and unimagineable! I reccomend this book to anyone who loves this fabulous show, and is in the mood to laugh uncontrollably!!!!!