Sometimes the germ of an idea is better than its execution. This is the case in The Silent Invasion: Secret Affairs and Red Shadows, a science fiction/paranoid conspiracy tale.

I was immediately intrigued by a graphic novel set in 1950s America focusing on a reporter searching for evidence of aliens based on an encounter that he had. When a secret group that controls the media and government is involved in the alien cover-up, and a sub-story dealing with the Red Scare and communist infiltration, I was sold. Lots of elements that interest me and furthermore, this comic was originally published in the late 80s, so it preceded The X-Files and the countless imitators that dealt with many of these themes in the 90s and today.

However, I was disappointed until the final chapter of this collection, when the pacing of the story gained steam and the storytelling (both words and art) finally came together. Cherkas' black and white artwork, which I have enjoyed in other comics, didn't quite work because the heavy inks and stylized artwork made it difficult to follow the numerous characters. The art does work for a story set in the 50s though and the detail work is appropriate.

Hancock's story takes a while to get rolling, but once it does, it is engaging. By the end of this volume, I was involved with many of the characters and looked forward to another volume.

There are aspects of the storytelling that I found distracting, such as the multiple shifts from first-person to omniscient narrator that hindered the flow of the story. While I am not against this device, it was awkwardly done in this volume, often in the middle of a page. The use of English spellings of "favour," "realise," and "honour" which I don't have a problem with when reading a British or Canadian book seemed out of place in a story set in America. Most of the use of humor (or "humour") falls short and distracts rather than adds to the story.

This volume is worth reading if you are a fan of the time period and the type of story popularized in The X-Files. Two other volumes Tarnished Dreams and The Great Fear are also available.

A total waste of time. Another book that tries to hold on to the classic, outdated, inneffective techniques of a forgotten age of martial arts.

In the last few years a sensation has been created in the martial arts world by the dominance of an offshoot of jiu-jitsu in inter-style competitions. However, it pales in comparison to the sensation caused by the first appearance of jiu-jitsu in the West. Every match for the Japanese artists then was an inter-style competition, usually with a boxer or wrestler and usually giving away a weight class or more, and the jiu-jitsuka more than held their own. This reprint of one of the very first Oriental martial art manuals in English, focuses largely on specific techniques and strategies used to defeat boxers. While Hancock was obviously completely enamored with the Japanese art, he nevertheless communicated its principles, and some largely forgotten techniques very well. This book will be of greatest value to a student who already has some familiarity with judo, jiu-jitsu, or a modern derivative like aikido. The student of turn-of-the-century physical culture will find it valuable as well.

What a waste of time! While potentially an interesting story the total absence of any writing skills what so ever result in an incredibly boring and poorly written book. Filled with direct speech (including conversations with animals that took place years ago) and irrelevant detail, I struggled to finish this book. Even the author herself seems to "give up" about half way through and uses court transcripts to "fill out" the book. These are not the transcripts of a ground breaking case but the transcripts of a case which Ms Hancock's husband brought against her regarding the ownership of some property. If you are looking for a good book on polygamy don't buy this one! One star is one to many.

Prisons of the Mind is an accurate, while biased (the daughter of a polygamist), account of life in a polygamist society. Living in Utah myself, the content was very interesting to me. The author is talks about her own personal encounter with polygamy from childhood to adulthood. I recommend this book to anyone interested in finding out more about polygamy from a source who lived through the experience.

When I first picked up this book at a used bookstore, I thought I would not be able to resist buying it. But my joy quickly turned into dismay as I discovered that the two people who compiled the book did a very unfortunate thing - they left out all the references! None of the many news items reproduced in the book is identified by source and exact date of publication. An incredible misjudgement on the part of the compilers who are both identified in the jacket as librarians! It is also a shame that the book has no index.

I have not read this book but found that this company was in trouble with misrepresentation and closed there doors. Please refer to this site. [web site]