In "MiracleMan" (UK vt. "MarvelMan") Alan Moore places a classic superhero type in the "real" world - a world very much like this one, in which people who see a man in tights are not going to think "super".

During a terrorist hijacking at a nuclear plant news photographer Michael Moran suffers a debilitating headache and mutters a word he sees from the wrong side of a glass door. And is transformed.

But people don't know what to make of a man who is invulnerable and can fly, and that includes Moran's wife. She asks why she'd never heard of MiracleMan and his now-remembered superfriends, and he has no answer. And the truth of the matter is world-shaking, literally.

This is just an outstanding book. The series hit a very dark spot in a later volume, one which I found personally distasteful, and it seemed to lose its focus by the time Neil Gaiman took it over; unfortunately it was never finished. Nonetheless, an excellent and enduring deconstruction of the idea of the superhero.

I'd recommend Moore's "V for Vendetta" to those who like this book.

One point: the graphic novel edition (the one that I have anyway), is missing several pages which were included at the beginning of the original comic. The comic began with a deliberately cheesy Captain Marvel-style story about time travel, but suddenly froze at the end of the story and zoomed in on MiracleMan's face, panel by panel. "Behold I teach you the superman: he is this lightning, he is this madness!" -Nietzsche, "Thus Spoke Zarathustra". The next page was the beginning of the graphic novel, with a far more realistic art and writing style. A very effective demonstration of what Moore planned to do to the cliches of the superhero genre. I don't know why it was eliminated.

There is a weird feeling you get, reading Alan Moore's Miracleman stories-the feeling that you're not reading a comic book. The story takes place in the real world-not the comic book universe. As the story opens, we find middle-aged Mike Moran being haunted by dreams of flying. During a terrorist raid, he is taken hostage and suddenly remembers his magic word and becomes a super-hero again. Having forgotten his past for twenty years, it all comes flooding back to him: which presents him with his biggest problem-how to explain things to the misses! As he does, she (famously) begins to laugh at him! The inconsistencies of his super-hero past begin to become apparent to him. Of course something is wrong here. Just what that something is, and how Alan Moore explains it are left for you to be seen.

Of course Miracleman (Marvelman in England) is the British version of Captain Marvel. In reincarnating him, Alan Moore (as is his want) completely reinvents him for a new age. Miracleman is 'aufgehobened' for a new era. For me, the best superhero comics like this, The Watchmen, and Marvels, try to portray their larger-than-life heroes as realistically as possible and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, put them in the real world, populated by real people, with real consequences for their actions. In Mike Moran's universe, Superman is well-known...as a comic book character. When Miracleman bursts onto the scene (literally) we imagine what it would be like if a super-hero really appeared in our world. But then, the adventure begins...

There's a hint of disdain in Moore's Marvelman (renamed Miracleman for distribution in the US, for obvious reasons) for virtually every aspect of the comic "super hero". His response? Laugh a bit, have his fun, and then go on to analyze what a super hero would REALLY mean to our world.

His hero isn't some rock-jawed alien or identity disassociative with a predilection for flying rodents. He's a normal person, and Moore doesn't forget this for a second; when Moran, or Miracleman, is being laughed at by his wife (obviously the voice of Moore in this instance) as he describes his absurd past as a superhero, he shatters a table in frustration.

This book, along with it successive volumes The Red King Syndrome and Olympus, are Moore's legacy to the world of the super hero. Neil Gaiman ties up the package nicely with The Golden Age. In the end, you're left with a lot more questions than answers...but then, that's the point, now isn't it?

This book is wonderful! The pictures are very colorful and peaceful to look at. Just as important, the flow and rhythm of the book is amazingly catching. I have had the entire book memorized for years, and that is without even trying.

I loved the book at 5, and I still love it at 27. I had this book as a kid, and I give it to all my friends who have children.

If you know someone who is learning to count, or someone who is a child at heart, this is the perfect book for them!

My dad read this book to my sister and I when we were small. We loved it more than any other book out there! The rhymes and illustrations were superior. We all still remember each and every number and group of animals associated with the number. My sister has given this book as a baby gift for years, and now that she is having a baby of her own, she is planning on having the nursery designed with the adorable animals! It is a must read and really helps little kids enjoy both math and reading throughout life!!!

A bouncing rhyme book. The darling illustrations of Garth Williams enhance this simple counting book, which uses items on a farm to teach counting from 1 to 10. Old fashioned and darling!

Utterly accurate, mild in tone, this book sets out in simple language (backed up by solid citations to peer-reviewed journals) how those of us with some intelligence can minimize the damage from prescription drugs.
From p179: "One wonders how the drug industry could be surprised that the consumer information plan focused 'on the hazards that drugs may present.' This was exactly the information being denied to consumers. Evidence that the real goal of the PhRMA and the AMA was to continue to keep consumers in the dark could be seen..."

This book is extensively reasearched, and a very balanced work on what goes on in the medical field. Literally a lifesaving book...if hazards are listed on the package labeling, the consumer is held to be informed about side effects of the medication...Mr. Moore explains the dangers of prescription drugs, how to decode the package insert, and does so in a very readable format. I am sorry that the rest of his books seem to be out of print.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone concerned about the safety of the drugs they use. This book had two important messages for me, first, that I need to take control of my own use of prescription, and over the counter, medications and be sure that I know their strengths and weaknesses. And to be watchful for adverse side effects and drug interactions. And second, that this country's drug safety program is woefully inadequate and ill equipped to deal with the harm that drugs can cause, even when used properly and under the care of a physician. I have read Mr. Moore's previous books and I have found him to be right on the mark and a step ahead of the pack, watch for drug safety to become a big issue.

I've been collecting comic books since the late 1950's when there was a great variety of quality comics to choose from. I bought Superman, Dennis the Menace, Archie, Mutt and Jeff, Little Lulu, Ritchie Rich, Nancy and Sluggo, etc. But for the past 20 years or so there's been only two types of comics to choose from -- superhero and satanic .... Except for Strangers in Paradise. In my opinion, Terry Moore has created the best comic book series ever. And it's a pity that more people don't know about SIP. So many people are addicted to the TV soap operas. They should be so lucky to discover SIP! If they did, Terry's subscriber list would be in the millions and SIP would be a household word!

The anti-comic book. An addictive series about love, life, crime, sexual identity, God, and what to wear on an intimidating job interview. The three main characters, Katchoo, David, and Francine, will engage you, amaze you...you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll feel young again! On the real...if you think comics are all superheroes and monster stuff, this is for you. Some of my other favorite writers are John Irving, Anne Rice, Banana Yoshimoto, Vladimir Nabokov, and Jonathan Carroll. If you like contemporary literary fiction-GET THIS COMIC! You will love it. Start with Volume One. :)

When I first started to read Strangers in Paradise back in 1996, I had to immediatly get my hands on every issue I could possibly find. I coulnd't stop reading this compelling story of Katchoo, Francine, David, and the rest of the deeply molded characters in this book. Terry Moore, dispite being a really friendly guy, has a great storytelling sence- verbally and visually. Although all three of the Strangers in Paradise series are wonderfull, this one takes the cake. A very deep story that will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you love the characters you are reading about. As soon as this collected edition came out, I had to own it, even though I own all of the indiviual comics. What more can I say... buy it, it's just amazing!

I was not much of a reader until now... I came across Tara's Angels at the library when it fell off the shelf. I took it home and could not put it down once I started to read it. I have to say this book changed my whole outlook on life. I was a pesimist until I read this book. Tara's Angels has encouraged me to get intouch w/ my spirituality. I have a sister who is have a very difficult tiem in her life and the first thing I told her was to read this book. I was happy and I also cried while reading this book . I have recommended Tara's Angels to several people who have read and loved it. Thank you Mr. Moore for writing this book it has literally changed my life.

I am not much of a reader until now... I came across Tara's Angels at the library when it fell off the shelf. I took it home and could not put it down once I started to read it. I have to say this book changed my whole outlook on life. I was a pesimist until I read this book. Tara's Angels has encouraged me to get intouch w/ my spirituality. I have a sister who is have a very difficult tiem in her life and the first thing I told her was to read this book. I was happy and I also cried while reading this book . I have recommended Tara's Angels to several people who have read and loved it. Thank you Mr. Moore for writing this book it has literally changed my life.

I'm the aunt Ruth (see previous review) also known as "Annie". As I read this book, I smiled, cried and felt a warm presence. It moved me to share this book with family and friends. Since, reading the book, Tara has helped me in many ways, always leaving proof that it was her. I have had lots of positive feed back from those who have read her book and thanks to Tara and Kirk (for writing the book) there are many more "Angel" believers on this earth. Looking forward to your next book, Kirk!

Intimate Kisses: The Poetry of Sexual Pleasure is a lovely little book edited by Wendy Maltz, M.S.W. This is her fifth book on sexuality. She's a sex therapist and marriage counselor whose work has appeared in national magazines and on video.

Maltz says that "negative messages about sexual pleasure cause a lot of unnecessary personal suffering." She believes that understanding sexual pleasure will help people incorporate it into their own lives, while recognizing that "there are many different types and intensities of sexual pleasure." People's concept of pleasure also changes as they change.

She divided the book into five sections: anticipation and desire; self-awareness and discovery; admiration and appreciation; union and ecstasy; and afterglow and remembrance. Each section includes twenty or more poems. She includes the poetry of Marge Piercy, Anne Sexton, Sharon Olds, and Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, as well as dozens of lesser-known poets.

Maltz says that "my goal in creating Intimate Kisses is to provide an erotic, yet sensitive, collection of poems that describe sexual pleasure based on intimacy." Readers will enjoy discovering that she met her goal.

This book is a perfect first step into erotic literature. Very good to share with your loved one in a self discovery journey. I suggest to read this together, listening to smooth jazz and tasting a good red wine. It will take you to a journey of soft erotic feelings. Perfect gift for a good friend or relative that needs to explore his/her sexuality. Perfect companion for a short vacation, maybe a weekend escape.

Oh my god........ Whoa..... yes. This is a keeper. This small seven by five just over 200 pages long gem of a book. Now I love erotica and sensuality and this book is a keeper. Makes me warm just typing the review. And the lovely thing is, it is a book that a woman or a man can read and enjoy and share together as part of foreplay or simply word play.

... there are no "blurbs" or information about the contributor except Elizabeth Barrett Browings piece on page 116.

To share two pieces so you can get a sense of the genre and style:

COME TO ME TO OUR SWEET BED page 19 By Penny Harter

Come to me to our sweet bed our sweet bed white bed yellow bed blue quilted bed oh the long warm limbs and the soft belly nuzzlings lips to shoulder .....I would be in you here are my breasts take them here is your entering me so deep so deeply come with me to our sweet bed

AT THE KITCHEN COUNTER page 120 by Jay Farbstein

"....After, back in the kitchen, you call me to you, unfold your robe and draw my hand into your wetness I fall onto my knees to worship and to taste of it

And in the night, weaving in and out of sleep, in and out of consciousness every time to find you folded in my arms wrapped up like a present we are giving to each other

Trust me it only gets better....

I might have rated this collection of writings higher, but didn't because there are points on which I disagree with Kierkegaard. However, where he is right, he is intensely right:
"There is a tremendous danger in which we find ourselves by being human, a danger that consists in the fact that we are placed between two tremendous powers. The choice is left to us. We must either love or hate, and not to love is to hate. So hostile are these two powers that the slightest inclination towards the one side becomes absolute opposition to the other. Let us not forget this tremendous danger in which we exist. To forget is to have made your choice." To Kierkegaard, self confident rationalism was an inadequate window on truth -- was in fact an egotistical self-deception. His seemingly counter-intuitive insistence that objective thought is inherently incomplete and uncertain has been supported in our post-modern age by principles of quantum theory. But he was less interested in being "right" than he was in existing, which for Kierkegaard meant being ready for decisive action. For him, 'actions speak louder than words,' and decision embodies greater truth than does detached rationalism. He exposes the sacred cows of "Christendom" as rotting corpses. He provokes. The thinking Christian need not agree with Kierkegaard on all fronts, so to speak, but he should not avoid these provocations. As counter-point to common, sugar coated, and silly versions of religion, they must be considered. While Kierkegaard, like Kant, can be difficult, many of these selections are powerful and certainly worthy of the effort. It is when Kierkegaard writes of love and of forgiveness that he is most profound:
"... if your life expresses the little you have understood, you speak more powerfully than all the eloquence of orators."

This is a book that will wrestle with your soul at the deepest level, yet it is written in language that will deal with your mind in the most simple terms, without demanding you to take a leap of arcane philosophical knowledge. Here is Kierkegaard for all of us: the philosopher who holds a mirror to one's innermost being and at the same time aims a Hubble telescope right at God. One way or another, this book is bound to change your life.

Where to begin studying Kierkegaard? Start with "Works of Love"! But for a generalist overview of his work, to gain a sense of the scope of Kierkegaard's vastly prodigious work as an author, to be introduced in a more thematic way to the thoughts of this thinker, start with "Provocations" (which I prefer to the Brentall anthology because it tends to weave a sense of the main burdens of SK into the fabric of the selections).

I am also happy to say that this work reads more easily than some of the earlier renditions of SK, especially for U.S. readers of the new century.

The book is about Jess and her ill grandfather. Jess's grandfather just had a heart attack, but before dying, he wishes to complete a painting. To him, painting is like breathing, and w/o finishing it, he would die unfulfilled. The painting is named River Boy, and shortly after, Jess starts seeing this River Boy. For Jess, it is a long ride to let go of her grandfather and to understand the past of this mysterious "river boy".
The book is a good quick read, so that afterwards you can reflect on its meaning. It has a slight deepness that's attractive, but not too much, so that it doesn't make the reader sink. Instead, it is slow, gentle, yet enticing. Enjoy it.

I think that this book is a must read. I found that I could never put it down- it was so gripping! I always wanted to know if Jess and her grandfather was alright. You can almost feel the same sort of anxiety that Jess was feeling. River Boy is a great book and I would recommend it strongly to anybody over the age of 12.

Tim Bowler portrays the relationship between Jess and her Grandpa with sensitivity but at no time does it become over-sentimental. There are many mystical, spiritual and emotional elements to this book that make it a book which is accessible on so many levels. I am 21 years old and read this book because I had to study it as part of my teaching degree but would definately put it into my top ten - it reminded me so much of my relationship with my own grandad. This will most certainly become a classic in children's literature

Billy Moore's book was completely honest. It wasn't perfect, but it was full of hope, especially for readers who can identify with his life. I felt like he worded so many things perfectly - brutally, yet tactfully, honest. BUT I put it down
wanting to know more, so the ending was a bit weak in that aspect. All in all though, Mr. Moore writes with intense, raw emotion and as a reader, I felt privileged to be let into such a world as what he describes. Eloquently written, this book was very hard to put down until the last page was turned.

YN1 Moore's book was exceptional. Not only was it extremely well written, but it allowed the reader to dive into the mind of a human being who struggled through a lot to get where he is today. The book gave great insight into a man who has dealt with racism and streotypes, and came out on top of it all. It was an inspiring text that I would suggest to other readers who are in need of a good story line about triumph over adversity. Bravo Zulu YNI.

The author's story is a beautiful, heart-rending, and hopeful one. I read it from cover to cover before I stopped, but didn't stop thinking about it for some time. Camus postulated that Sisyphus had achieved - or would achieve- happiness. I admire the author giving the Nez Perce Chief- given name- not his Christian name. It's good to know an English major who unapologetically begins sentences with And and But. Especially long sentences which have already used considerable punctuation are only made difficult to read and understand if not punctuated with a period. And- "and" and "but" often go off on a bit of a tangent that begs its own sentence. My heart hurts for the writer's tribulations, but is elevated by his arduously attained success. Italy, with the Italian language, is the crowning jewel of his struggle. The author is remarkable in that his views, his attitudes, even criticism do not seem to bear the influence of left or right- but seems to proceed from a deep sense of what is fair, good, right, just. It was a great pleasure to see the author's choices of quotes and poem selections were of enduring literature. I am glad the university did not dumb him down to the popular notion in education that what has not stood the test of time is better to read than what endures in spite of such a notion. He has much wisdom at a young age. The work showed rare form by appreciating what is good about religion- and how its dependence upon a book which bears the biases of a scienceless people, hurts people who cannot help their unique differences. I wish some wise admiral would read his book and put him in charge of creating a new vision of the Navy and the military in general. A great read and very insightful.

Alan Moore, one of the legends of comics writers, made his mark on mainstream comics during his long run in the 1980s on the "Swamp Thing" title. His work on the title transformed it from a more-or-less straightforward superhero title into a mythic saga, unafraid to tackle adult topics and themes.

Originally, the Swamp Thing was a man killed in a lab accident in the Louisiana Swamps, somehow resurrected as a living plant, who battled the usual assortment of villains. Moore's Swamp Thing became a plant elemental, an aspect of a worldwide, Gaian web of plant life called The Green. Moore emphasized Swamp Thing's continued connection to humanity by giving him a human lover, Abigail, and a quest for self-knowledge that Joseph Campbell would have recognized instantly.

DC Comics is republishing Moore's work on Swamp Thing under their Vertigo imprint, as a series of collected graphic novels. This is the third in the series, and probably won't make much sense without having read the first two. It continues the changes in Swamp Thing's character and brings new complexity to the plot and themes of the Swamp Thing's story.

It says a great deal for Moore that even his minor characters can take on a life of their own. In one of the issues reprinted here, Moore and the artists created legendary Vertigo character John Constantine, as a mysterious young Englishman (revealed later as a magician, although that's not explicitly stated in this book) who travels the world, knows a great deal about the Swamp Thing, and is willing to share that knowledge for a price. Constantine proved so popular that DC Comics later made him the star of his own long-running comic book, called "Hellblazer."

Fans of "Hellblazer" will find Constantine's introduction most amusing in retrospect, both for his appearance and his attitude. As originally drawn, Constantine looks a great deal like Sting in the "Synchronicity" days, and his character lacks the blood-bought wisdom and ghosts of his failures that are the hallmark of the later series.

Constantine's appearance signals the start of one of Moore's longest and most mythic sagas, as a Lovecraftian evil arises to challenge all Creation. Only hints of the tale to come appear here, but the introduction itself is worth the price of admission.

If you've never read Moore's work before, start with "V For Vendetta" or "Watchmen," which are self-contained stories (and masterpieces.) If you know Moore's work, but not on the "Swamp Thing" title, start with "Saga of the Swamp Thing" and buy all three collected editions currently in print, including this one. These are classics, and worth the price.

Note: As of the time I wrote this review, Amazon.com listed Moore, Rick Veitch, and Ron Randall as "creators" of this book. Moore was sole writer of these comics when they were first published, but he worked with many artists, some of whom aren't properly credited here.

In this third collection of Alan Moore's important and groundbreaking run on the Swamp Thing series, both character development and sheer gothic American horror become the keys. During this period (original issues #35-42), Swamp Thing learns that he is an elemental spirit in true communion with the plant kingdom. This would become monumentally important to the further development of the character. Moore was tackling both social issues and horror devices at this point, and he was delivering tremendous plotlines in all areas. There are werewolves, vampires, and zombies appearing in the series during this stretch, but this is not cheap slasher fare but strong and innovative literary horror writing. On the social commentary side, the first two installments here, "The Nukeface Papers Parts I and II" tackle chemical and nuclear dumping. Moore dives into women's issues quite believably in "The Curse" (an extreme rarity in comics even today), while "Southern Change" and "Strange Fruit" are very disturbing examinations of slavery and racism in the Deep South. This edition of the Swamp Thing series does not contain any written introductions, but there is a gallery of individual covers featuring the always amazing art of Stephen Bissette and John Totleben. For some reason only four of the eight relevant covers are included, and the withholding of cover art is an overall disappointment in this series of graphic novels. However, that is ultimately a minor concern as the incredible work of Moore, Bissette, Totleben, and their other important colleagues has the power to blow the minds of readers of any kind of fiction.

This collection reprints the best issues of Swamp Thing. For those not at all familier with the character, it is an excellently written and drawn comic about a good swamp monster battling evil (and is much better than that description makes it sound).

Notable in this third volume of the series, which reprints the beginning of the "American Gothic" story arc, is Moore's greater use of social critique, elevating these stories above mere entertaining, well-written horror stories. By combining fantastic horrors to such real-life horrors as racism and sexism, these stories are far more effective than any in the earlier collections at terrifying the reader.

In "American Gothic", Swamp Thing is sent scurrying to different parts of the U.S. by a manipulative figure (Jon Constantine) to battle all of the classic horror figures (vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc.), but each are handled in an absolutely brilliantly unique and new manner. For example, there is a whole town of vampires living underwater, completely shielded from the sun, in the process of, for the first time, living communally and cooperating to breed a second generation of vampires that are more powerful and horrific (the dedication of the vampires to family is contrasted by the dysfunctional families of the normal humans). The title story, "The Curse", is a unique Werewolf story, tying in the monthly transformation according to the phases of the moon to the menstrual cycle. The Curse was controversial due to its misinterpretation by illiterate readers as being a sexist comment on PMS when in reality it is an extremely feminist story condemning society for its male-driven fear and shunning of the feminine, and the subjugation of women into sexual objects or housewives.

The American Gothic story arc does not conclude in this issue (although the individual stories can be enjoyed on their own) so hopefully a volume 4 will follow.

By this point, Moore was also using word games in his text more frequently (read carefully) adding an extra level of enjoyment. This collection also contains the first appearance of Jon Constantine, and it is a period I miss. Here Constantine is a totally mysterious, manipulative character whose only real power is his mysteriously obtained knowledge and who always adds an element of dark humour (he is still a great character, but far less mysterious, and he now has magical skills, the extent of which appear to change from appearance to appearance).

This collection represents, if not Moore's best, then the best of Swamp Thing.