I'm an upper level biology major at a 4-year university, and I think every term that I looked up was not in this book. Maybe it would be fine for people who know absolutely nothing about biology, but if you're looking for a book to give you something a little extra other than your biology text book, this is not it.

I am not a scientist which is precisely why I love this book. I can look up practically any biological term and get an understandable yet complete and intelligent definition. I am amazed at how comprehensive this book is. Every possible term that I can think of seems to be included from "Aberrant chromosome behaviour" to "Zymogen." But, this book goes beyond the beautifully crafted definitions, it has wonderfully detailed drawings. I am so impressed that I don't know any literate person who would not benefit from having this reference on his or her shelf; even a biologist would be able to refresh on terminology. Great for students too! GREAT FOR EVERYONE!

I picked up this book expecting a bunch of stories about well, the search for magic, but instead they're only a handful and the other stories are about kender and gnomes (which isnt necassarily a bad thing).
But the stories themselves are decent enough and the gnome stories, as always, are hilarious.
I would recommend this only to dragonlance fans.

I was hoping for more,but it was pretty good though.Leaves you with questions,but alright.Try it, you will enjoy it.

Like someone else said, the back cover is a lie - there are no maps. Basically I borrowed this book from the library because of the first 50 pages which contain interviews with Weis & Hickman. This is really interesting stuff, covering :
- their backgrounds
- how they got to TSR
- how the whole DragonLance project started
- how they got chosen to write the books and the incredibly short time frames they had - they wrote the first DragonLance book in under 2 months!

My advice, read this section, forget the rest. It ain't worth buying but definitely worth borrowing.

If you want to know more about the worlds created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, this book will give you a good amount of information on the various settings. The bulk of the book is a comprehensive and considerably detailed encyclopedia separated into five different sections -- each one dedicated to a particular series (i.e. the Death Gate Cycle, the Dragonlance Novels, etc.). The book is also wonderfully supplied with beautiful full-color paintings from the novels, black and white photographs of the authors in the Interviews chapter, and a helpful book-by-book analysis of the authors' various works. The first problem, however, with this potentially great work is that the description at the back of the book misleads the reader. It promises "numerous black-and-white DRAWINGS and MAPS to each world." This is false. There are absolutely NO MAPS within the book, and the only black and white pictures are mostly photographs. It's disappointing because detailed maps would have greatly aided the encyclopedia entries. And a well-structured timeline would have likewise been invaluable and much appreciated. The encyclopedia entries also need more information. Some descriptions are only a sentence long. In addition, the book-by-book analysis in the first chapter completely left out the Dragonlance Novels (which I find particularly sinful, because it was the Dragonlance Series that catapulted Weis and Hickman to fame.) So much more could have been added visually. The writing content could have been packed with meatier annotations and previously unknown trivia. I guess I'll have to wait for another,worthier attempt at these magnificent fantasy realms.

If your looking for an autobiography, novel or a new story, you've come to the wrong place. This is a very detailed reference book FULL of information, with only a little new meterial (like about the author's lives). If you are a longtime fan of the author's, however, this can be a great book to have. After having already read the books of Weis and Hickman, reading this book can remind you what happened, clarify confusing points, or simply bring back memories of a great story.

The diplomatic wives depicted in this book were a hardy lot. Many of the stories brought forth the visions of the proper Englishman dressing for dinner each night in the jungle. Ms. Hickman grew up in the diplomatic service and displays much affection and admiration for these unsung ladies. The letters diary excerpts are interesting, sometimes poignant reminders of how isolated and far from home the ladies were.

The book has a peculiar organization, not by date or individuals, but by their duties. I found this annoying and difficult to follow. We meet a lady on page 6 and do not hear of her again until page 200. It skips between the 17th century to the 20th and back within two paragraphs. Consequently, I had never had a clear idea of who they were and when their stories were taking place.

Ms. Hickman is almost too discreet. Some of the incidents beg for clarification. (She is not a diplomat's daughter for nothing!) I didn't expect a tell-all tabloid style, but neither did I expect an almost Victorian reticence. The author clearly had done a great deal of research and took advantage of her own and her mother's recollections, but was in great need of a good editor.

I think the first reviewer is being a little unfair towards this book. Yes, it skips around chronologically, but the aim of the book is to give the reader a taste of life in the diplomatic service from its beginnings to the current day, not be a biography of particular wives. On the first, the book succeeds very well. We hear about the glittering parties and receptions as well as the downright appalling conditions some families lived in (well into the 20th century, by the way). The wives are often in just as much danger as their husbands, and they are usually unpaid! Katie Hickman does a laudable job of giving these (mostly) admirable women their due.

The focus of this book is to teach children basic information about American trees. Colorful hand-drawn graphics are throughout the book, such as showing the parts of a tree, the difference between deciduous and evergreen trees, and single and compound leaves. Very basic information is described such as what the difference between an acorn (seed) and a seed from a cone is. It is not completely thorough, though, such only showing an acorn as a type of deciduous tree seed and not showing a maple seed, or any other kind of seed from a deciduous tree, or even mentioning that different seeds for deciduous trees look different. Children may assume that all deciduous trees bear acorns!

Easy to understand explanations are given for why deciduous trees' leaves change color in the autumn and why they lose their leaves for the winter months is provided.

The book jumps around a little, flowing well at some points such as going through the seasons chronologically for a discussion of deciduous trees then suddenly presenting mangrove trees and then jumping to a map of the United States divided by different coloration for different types of forests. The book lacks flow.

Also included is a two-page spread on Northwestern rainforests and a two-page spread on fruit trees. How trees are used as homes for wildlife and how we people use trees is discussed. The book concludes with a call for children to become "save a tree" activists by writing letters, raising money to donate to conservation charities and a call to recycle and plant trees in our own yards. There are a total of seven short activities to do such as drying fresh apples for snacks and observing the layers inside of a trees' bud.

I rate this at 3 stars due to the sketchy nature of the content. With a little more work and not much additional space a more thorough job could have been done to explain different types of seeds and blossoms. Perhaps a simple illustration of the different tree leaves with its' seed and label of the name of the tree, and if applicable, tell and illustrate if it blooms with flowers or not and if it bears fruit. Another way this is sketchy is that not all fruit trees are listed, for example it says that Florida and California have a lot of fruit trees but it doesn't simply state that most of these are crops of oranges and grapefruits-kids would find that level of detail interesting and not too difficult to understand. It does not mention that sugar maple trees produce maple syrup-a way to get a food out of a non-flowering deciduous tree is interesting and something that kids would like to know. (I have not yet met a child who does not love to eat maple syrup; it would be nice to know where it comes from!) I think that children remember most what is applicable to their lives, so linking trees to parts of their everyday life (such as what they eat) is important.

The publisher states on the cover, that this book is for ages 7-11 but I feel the comprehension level when read aloud by a parent is suitable for children aged 3 and up. The language is pretty simple and it is a short book (32 pages). Perhaps this would be a good read-aloud as one part of a unit study or to act as a first non-fiction lesson for young children about trees. I highly recommend that other books about trees be read to more fully round out the information.

I liked this book because it brought a bit of Ohio history to life for me. We had always passed the small towns in Ohio and my father told us the story of the massacre of the Indians there -- how only one had escaped and lived to tell the story. He doesn't tell the story anymore, but here it is. Thanks.

I have to say that I hated this book. I have read some of the authors other works and found them entertaining but this book was not. The entire idea of wooden sailing ships in space just makes me cringe. This is a fantasy book that is trying to grab some sci-fi readers by saying it is about galactic conflict. If you feel the need to read somthing by this author find a fantasy work and stay away from this piece of garbage.

The theory behind the book is a good one, I will admit. However, Hickman lacks the temperate hand of Weis in this novel, and the story dissolves into mass chaos at several points in the book.

We're introduced to several characters who serve no purpose, and are whisked out of the story faster than it took to describe them. We face not one but three disasters at different intervals, and by the time the book is finished, not only do you not have a general clue as to who is where, but you are tired, and worn out by all of the action.

The character developments happen fast, with very little interpersonal reaction. They bond because they have to in order to survive. Beyond that, there is nothing interpersonal about these people, and the relationships between them are distant at best.

All in all, I don't think I can suggest this as a good read. More like a big disappointment.

I must have started readin "Requiem of Stars" 4 times. When I finally decided to get into it, I am glad I did. The book is full of action. The detail involved in the personality of each character made me see them in my mind's eye. The imagination expands and escapes the limits of reality and physics.

Fantasy intertwined with science fiction was a surprisingly refreshing change. Space travel, magic, mystisicm all rolled up in one story that breaks the boundaries of sci-fi/fantasy.

You love and hate each character. The detail given to the personalities of each character or without limits. If you can't see each individual character and their personality in your mind's eye, then you must be like "Djan" after his meeting with the attacking aliens. (Read the book to find out what being like Djan means.)

This book is, without a doubt, the worst Weis and Hickman book I have ever read. When I saw it for the first time I knew I had to get it. Then I sat down and read the first chapter and promptly put the book back on the shelf and walked away. Why? I'll tell you. First of all, the prose was bad. The words didn't flow: it seemed as if the author's were trying to put together wrong puzzle pieces. Second, why bring in this "I"? The Darksword trilogy was perfect without the addition of a new character (and one who seemed to have almost no dimension, I might add.) Then the aliens, once again, why? Then an angel from God comes down (I heard this from someone) and helps everyone out? Wouldn't it be better to have an angel from the Almin? And Mosiah. Why would he become part of the Duuk-tsarith? Didn't he hate them in the trilogy? And not only that, he was an Enforcer. Excuse me? Finally, Simkin? He was, perhaps, the second Darksword. Why bring him back from the dead? That's awful cheap, if you ask me. Hickman and Weis fans (of which I am one) can safely skip this book. Starshield was fairly good (about an 8) and now this weak book leaves me to ask: what next? Could it be that the author's have finally lost their charm? Of course, this book, like all of theirs, is sure to sell. But if they continue to put out books like this, I think I'll agree with Kirkus: they are well on the road to becoming the monarchs of no-brainer fantasy.

Legacy of the Darksword blends together fantasy and science-fiction in a disharmonic confusing whirlwind. We are taken twenty years after the original trilogy ends. Saryon and his mute companion Reuven live in Oxford, England. Prince Garald is now King, of what, we do not know. Mosiah has unexpectedly joined the ranks of the Duuk-tsarith. Humankind is being hunted and destroyed by the Hch'nyv, an alien race seeking to eliminate everyone but themselves. Rumours stir that in Thimhallan Joram has created another Darksword, and that it is this that will stop the alien race from attacking. Saryon, Reuven, and Mosiah return to Thimhallan to attempt to persuade Joram to give them the sword so they can save humankind. Hot on their tail, however, is a group of people known as Technomancers who want the sword for their own reasons. Thrown into the mix is Eliza, Joram's daughter, and Scylla, an agent of a secret government department. Simpkin returns from the dead ...

...and it is only he who gave me any pleasure in this new tale. And even that was a dry emotion. The characters lack depth and the plotline is weak. Joram is a minor character, who has seemingly reverted to the angry and melancholy blackness of his youth. Time hop-scotching is introduced, whipping the story through three different alternate times.

While this is okay if you're looking for a "light read," this book holds nothing of what the original Darksword Trilogy has. Although it appears the same size as the first three books, the font is much larger to make up for it. The entire story was unnecessary, as the trilogy ended in a befitting manner, closing the Prophecy nicely. I'm not going to say "Don't read this," but please be prepared as you go into it that it's NOTHING like the original Darksword Trilogy. Don't expect much from it.

I thought this book was great. As good as the Dragonlance books (although i see some of you don't agree ;) ) I thought it was good, i would recomend it to any fantasy fan.

I had hoped to find new, up to date information of Salvadore Lucania (a.k.a. "Lucky Charle", Lucky Luciano, etc.). Sadly, what I got was a reprint of a somewhat lurid "crime reporter's" account of Lucania's trial for prostitution in the 1930s. If that is what you are looking for, this is a good read. However, the only new information herein is a brief introduction and a more brief afterword. The more interesting stories of his role in the WWII invasion of Sicily and his return to Cuba in the 1950s are sadly not given the coverage they deserve. AUTHORS TIP: here is a story worthy of coverage: what happened after he was deported and perhaps what happened to his children.