Also appearing in this collection is a story I've loved since I first saw the Classic Cartoon version--Rikki Tikki Tavi. It tells the story of an intrepid young mongoose and his life or death battle to protect an Indian villa from a couple of particularly unpleasant cobras. Rikki Tikki Tavi has always seemed to me to be one of the great heroes in all of literature.

These are great stories for young and old. For folks who worry about Kipling's potentially imperialist, racist or racialist overtones (see review), rest assured, these tales are free of such themes. They offer an excellent opportunity to introduce kids to the work of a true master storyteller.

GRADE: A

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

The most memorable bits from this book are doubtlessly the poem, "Jabberwocky", as well as chapter six, "Humpty Dumpty". But all of the book is marvellous, and not to be missed by anyone who enjoys a magical romp through silliness and playful use of the English language.

(This review refers to the unabridged "Dover Thrift Edition".)

Maud Brewster, like many of London's female characters (from Skeet, Curly and Mercedes in The Call of the Wild to Beth, Alice and Collie in White Fang), is underdeveloped, a mite hysterical, and completely dependent on the male characters. Without much in terms of psychological complexity, Maud provides a poor, poor reason for Humphrey Van Weyden to rebel against Wolf Larsen.

The first half of this book and its final few chapters are superb because London's male characters and their struggles are vividly portrayed. The knife-whetting contest between Mugridge and Hump; the homoerotic segment where Hump tends to a naked and wounded Larsen; Johnson and Leach's struggle against Larsen's iron fist -- London obviously loves these characters and gives them the light of day. Maud is another story.

In any event, the first half of this book is the top-notch tale of a Miltonic hero's slow slide from power, and the ending a moving fulfillment of this character's destiny (life, in the end, *is* yeast...but a savagely active and beautiful yeast, at that). Another one of London's terrible worlds unfolding its brutal majesty before us -- and, of course, another book inexplicably relegated to the children's section of many a book store.

The introduction of the female slows the book considerably but in my honest opinion, the ending is fine. Larsen's final fate is surprising and heart rending. The repeated phrase "Bosh" leads to one of the books best moments. While I wish London hadn't included the female, the book is well worth the read. At least before the female comes in, the book is darkly violent and challenging. The social implications of the debates between Van Weyden and Larsen are extremely sobering. All in all, this book is one of the best I have ever read. Brilliant is the best word I can come up with.

Actually, this book is two books in one (or one book and one real long preface). The last half of the book was written first and describes the author's revelation of his past life as Paul the Apostle. With a unique insight the author shares his experiences with Jesus. The reader is allowed, through the author's story, to witness Paul's growing admiration and conversion to the teachings of Jesus; as well as, Paul's interpretation of those teachings.

The first half of the book tells of the author's reluctance to publish his story; and of the subsequent Angelic intervention to insure the book be published before the year 2000. For those readers who believe in Angels and their heavenly help in guiding us to reach "on earth as it is in heaven", this portion of the book will confirm those beliefs.

The Messengers is filled with thought provoking material, entertaining, at time humerous, and always inspirational. If you need to renew your faith and spirit give this book a try.

If anything in this book touches you, the "Book of Bricks", a book within the book, should. I have never been touched as much by something as that portion of the book has touched me.

What was the most interesting in for me within the book's context were the beliefs about gay and lesbian spirituality. The angel shared:

"As long as humankind has walked the earth, there have been people who are gay - perfect, whole and complete just the way they are. You see, the more a religion gets accepted, the more self-righteous it becomes in good-versus-evil. When outside forces begin to let up, pressure begins building from within for conformity, beginning with the smallest number of members who act differently or think differently from the majority. The religion's actions become no better than those of its earlier persecutors. However, their persecution is now done in the name of God or Jesus or the Bible."

''Sex is a gift from God for you to give to the one you love as your gift of affection. There is nothing bad or wrong with what gender you give this gift to. It is up to you. However, it is the choice of the receiver to accept it or not. If you go whoring, you must understand that you are only wasting time."

The message throughout the book to me was: "God is a God only of love. God created me gay because he wants me to learn something different...something special for life."

I attended G.W. Hardin's book signing on August 31 at The Luminary. Hardin shared his following thoughts with the group:

"An African shaman-priest, named Malidoma Somé, once told me, 'In my culture, we have no word for gay. In my village, we see no separation between the natural world and the supernatural world.' The point he continued to make was that in his tribal nation those that are gay are considered the sacred ones, the Gatekeepers, those who can move between this world and the Otherworld. They are accorded great respect and recognized as an integral part of village life. No one would even think of showing disrespect to these watchers of two worlds."

"Imagine my shock when, writing my latest book, ON THE WINGS OF HEAVEN, this notion of the sacred ones once again came forth-only this time from the angelic realm. Any of you who have read my works know that I write true stories about the extraordinary. My new book is just such a story where a Vietnam Vet, by the name of Joseph Crane, barely survives the bombing of his ship during the Vietnam War. Just when he thinks he is going to die, a shouting voice directs him through a blinding inferno. Later, along with his fellow deckmates who had also followed the voice, Joe discovers no human source can be found to thank. For twelve years, the voice intermittently continues its calling out of Joe's name until the day he decides to answer back. From that point on, there unfolds a story that changes Joe's life. An angel appears in his bedroom while he is about to join his wife and four dogs in sleep. The angel charges Joe to find seven master souls who not only will represent the human condition in us all but will also speak on behalf of humanity as heaven presents us with an offer of returning to an Eden-like earth. And by the way, three of those seven masters will be gay. Joe almost chokes at hearing this, but over the space of two years finds the seven."

"What's so interesting is that the angel eventually reveals that much of Biblical book of Revelation has been misused and misinterpreted over the centuries. It is not a book about the end of the world, but about the end of hatred, fear and punishment. It's too detailed to go into here, but I would like to point out one particular passage and quote from my new book. The historical, Biblical translation from this corresponding section in the Book of Revelation goes like this:"

...and no one could learn the song except those hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been purchased from the earth. These are they who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were purchased from among men, first-fruits unto God and unto the Lamb, and in their mouth there was found no lie: they are without blemish [Rev. 14:4-5].

"Now, I'd like to give you the exact translation as was given to Joe Crane by the angel. Pay close attention to how words were changed across history. The angel tells Joe this same passage as it was given from the one called I Am:"

"Then there were those that had the Father's and the Son's name written on them. No one could learn the new song but these. And they were those men that did not lay with women or women that did not lay with men. They have been chosen as the first fruits and are the spiritual teachers. They are blameless and speak the truth of God's love."

"Most gay men and women are deeply spiritual, and in an innate way. Just like the indigenous had recognized, we are actually spiritually oriented, not sexually oriented. Sexual orientation is an invention of modern day society. What a surprise from a cultural that sells sex on TV, in the movies, and in the newspapers as if nothing else mattered. Gay men and women's sexuality is simply a by-product of their spiritual orientation, not the other way around."

"We simply must end this arrogance where we pretend to speak for God. We must take a look at ourselves collectively and understand that we all have a place in the Divine Plan. And those who are blessed with the 'first fruits' must give up their victimhood in favor of their sacred power. The time has come for the Gatekeepers to bring balance back to themselves and to life around them."

After the book signing, I spent time with G.W. Hardin and he said:

When you don't live who you are, it will eventually affect you physically. By embracing who I was, I overcame an incurable disease. When we live in our giftedness, we can offer healing to ourselves and others."

After reading "On the Wings of Heaven" and talking with G.W. Hardin, I knew it was time that I gave myself the freedom to define and understand God as I choose...to keep spirituality back into my life. For years, I denied myself spirituality because I felt as though I was sinning due to my sexuality. I realized God created me gay because he wanted me to learn something special about myself. God wanted me to take a different journey...a different path."

I whole-heartily recommend "On the Wings of Heaven" because it will take you on a spiritual journey. Perhaps you will ask yourself some questions. You will reflect on your life. Or the angel will inspire you when he concludes each conversation by saying, "Teach only love."

Julie L. Shaffer was homegrown in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and she has been recently transplanted in Seattle via a John Deere tractor. Apparently, Julie has a collection of wonderful implements. That's farm implements, you know.

I found the writing format, the telling through other's eyes, less engaging and certainly less tasty than Blake's current style.